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Out and about enjoying the sunny weather?

Whether you're planning a trip to the beach, a countryside walk, or a drive, here are a few important reminders -

🥤 Stay Hydrated â€“ If you're heading out, especially for long periods, make sure to carry plenty of water to stay hydrated in the heat.

đźš— Plan Ahead â€“ If you're travelling by car, plan your journey in advance. Expect delays in popular areas and ensure your vehicle is road-ready, especially in hot conditions.

🏖️ Respect Our Spaces â€“ If you're visiting the beach or any of our beautiful green spaces, please take your litter home with you. Let’s all do our part to keep these areas clean and enjoyable for everyone.

🚦 Camber Beach Visitors â€“ Camber can attract over 20,000 visitors a day during peak times. Parking is limited and roads can become heavily congested, with long delays. Consider alternative destinations or travel times to avoid long waits in the heat.

🌊 Water Safety – #FloatToLive â€“ If you get into difficulty in the water, remember, lean back, extend your arms and legs, and float like a starfish. This simple action can save your life. #RespectTheWater

We’ll have officers out and about throughout the weekend to support our communities. Please enjoy the sunshine responsibly and look out for one another.

 

Fraud can impact anyone, but scammers often prey on the elderly and vulnerable. That’s why we’re committed to helping you stay one step ahead.

Read our latest Fraud Newsletter for practical advice and important updates on the newest scams circulating in our communities. Inside, you’ll find tips on how to recognise fraud, how to protect yourself and others, and what to do if you suspect something’s wrong.

This edition features a real-life story where a quick-thinking jeweller helped stop scammers from defrauding an elderly gentleman out of ÂŁ40,000, proof that awareness and vigilance really do make a difference.

How you can help:

  • Share the information with family, friends, and neighbours, especially those who may be less confident online.
  • Stay informed so you can spot scams before they succeed.
  • Report any suspicious activity through Action Fraud or by calling 0300 123 2040.
  • We’re here to support you, and by working together, we can make it harder for criminals to operate in our communities.

    Read the full newsletter here Fraud Newsletter - June 2025 | Surrey Police

     

    Is someone counting on you to get home safely? The consequences of drink / drug driving can be devastating.

    đź”´ Plan how you're all getting home.

    đź”´ Look out for your mates.

    đź”´ End the night safely for everyone.

     

    🦌 Deer Aware – Drive with Caution

    Please take extra care when driving through rural or wooded areas.

    🚨 Key Deer Safety Tips:

    🦌 When are deer most active?
    Deer are present year-round, but collisions peak May–June (when young deer disperse) and October–November (rutting season). Be especially alert at dawn and dusk, when visibility is low and deer are most active.

    🦌 Seen one? Expect more.
    If a deer crosses your path, slow down, others may follow. Deer often move in groups and can behave unpredictably.

    🦌 Watch for signs.
    Deer warning signs are placed in known crossing areas. If you see one, reduce your speed, stay alert, and be ready to stop.

    🦌 Use your lights wisely.
    At night, use full-beam headlights when safe to do so. This can help you spot deer by the reflection in their eyes. If you see a deer, dip your lights, bright beams may cause them to freeze.

    🦌 If you hit a deer:

  • Stop safely and turn on hazard lights.
  • Do not approach the deer, it may be injured and react unpredictably.
  • Call the police if the deer is on or near the road.
  • Check your vehicle before continuing.
  • Report the incident to your insurer, especially if you have comprehensive cover.
  • Stay safe and help protect our wildlife.
     

    đź”’ Secure Your Shed & Garage 

    We urge all residents to keep their sheds and garages locked at all times, especially when not in use. They often contain valuable tools, bikes, or gardening equipment that are attractive targets for thieves.

    👮‍♂️ Crime Prevention Tips:

  • Use robust padlocks or deadlocks on doors, consider a surface mounted garage door lock. Fit an alarm system or motion sensor lighting
  • Keep expensive items secured inside using lockable cabinets, ground anchors, or chains.
  • Avoid leaving tools or ladders outside - they can be used to gain access to your property.
  • Mark valuable items with your postcode using a UV pen or property marking system. DNA marking kits can be collected from Hastings or Battle Police stations free of charge.
  • Register valuable equipment at www.immobilise.com to help police return stolen items if recovered.
  • Let’s work together to make our sheds and garages as difficult to access and unattractive to criminals as possible.

     

    As Police Community Support Officers, a core part of our role is engaging with communities to address the issues that matter most to local residents.

    Recently, in response to concerns raised about excessive speeding, we carried out a speed monitoring operation on New Winchelsea Road. Using the Speed Indication Device (SID), we took a proactive approach to promote safer driving.

    Visible presence plays a key part in deterring speeding, and during this operation, many drivers were observed adhering to the limit, something we’re always encouraged to see.

    Speeding remains a significant concern in many areas, and we believe education and enforcement both play vital roles in tackling this issue. We’re committed to continuing our support for local residents in raising awareness and promoting safer roads for everyone.

    If you're interested in joining or starting a Community Speed Watch group in your area, visit the website here: https://orlo.uk/LBwIY. Sussex Police provides full training and ongoing support.

     

    This week, Battle Hill, Battle was the focus of our continued efforts to address dangerous driving. Following reports of excessive speeding in the area, officers deployed with the Speed Indicator Device (SID) to monitor vehicle speeds and raise public awareness.

    Speeding isn’t just a traffic offence, it’s a serious risk to life. We’ve all seen the devastating consequences that can result when speed limits are ignored. That’s why a visible policing presence is so important: it not only acts as a deterrent but also encourages drivers to think twice and make safer choices.

    Speed enforcement remains one of our key priorities, and we’re committed to working in partnership with Community Speed Watch (CSW) volunteers, who play a vital role in protecting our communities.

    If you're interested in joining or starting a Community Speed Watch group in your area, visit the website here: https://orlo.uk/LBwIY. Sussex Police provides full training and ongoing support.

     

    A driver has been issued with a Traffic Offence Report (TOR) after being found parked on the zig-zag lines at a pedestrian crossing on Sea Road, Bexhill.

    Zig-zag lines are there for a critical reason: to keep the area around crossings clear so that pedestrians, especially children, the elderly, and those with mobility issues, can be seen clearly by approaching drivers. Parking on these lines significantly reduces visibility and increases the risk of serious accidents.

    We want to remind all drivers:

  • Never park on zig-zag lines, even for a short time.
  • These restrictions are in place to protect lives, not to inconvenience.
  • Offences like this will be dealt with through education and enforcement to keep our roads safe for everyone.
  •  

    We had the pleasure of visiting the 10th Hastings Girl Guides recently for a fun and thought-provoking session all about Heritage Crime, and what a brilliant group they were!

    It was fantastic to see so much enthusiasm and curiosity about local history and the places that make our communities special. From ancient buildings to historic landmarks, our heritage tells the story of who we are, and it’s something worth protecting.

    We spoke about:

  • What Heritage Crime is (like vandalism or theft at historic sites)
  • Why it matters to you and future generations
  • How everyone can help by respecting these places and reporting anything suspicious
  • The Girl Guides asked some great questions and really got stuck into the discussion. It’s inspiring to see young people so passionate about preserving our cultural legacy.

    Remember: our history belongs to all of us, and protecting it starts with awareness.

     

    Last week, we had the pleasure of joining pupils, parents, and our colleagues from East Sussex Fire & Rescue at Ninfield C of E Primary School for their fantastic summer fĂŞte.

    It was a great opportunity to chat with children and parents about the role of policing in their community. We showcased some of the kit we carry in our police vehicles, gave everyone a chance to try on some of our gear, and even let them explore the inside of a police car, which the parents loved!

    Events like these are a fantastic way to build trust, spark curiosity, and help young people understand the work we do to keep communities safe. A big thank you to Ninfield for the warm welcome and enthusiastic participation, we had a great time!

    We look forward to more opportunities to connect with local schools and families.

     

    Speeding across Rother remains a concern for many residents, and we’ve been taking proactive steps not only to reduce speeding but also to educate drivers on the sometimes-devastating consequences it can have.

    We recently deployed our Speed Indicator Device (SID) to Ninfield Road, Sidley, to monitor vehicle speeds and raise awareness. During our checks, we identified four drivers exceeding the 30mph limit:

  • 2 vehicles recorded at 39mph
  • 1 at 37mph
  • 1 at 36mph
  • All other drivers were observed to be within the legal limit.

    The details of those exceeding the limit have been recorded, and advisory letters will be sent as part of our educational approach to encourage safer driving habits.

    Why this matters:
    Even small increases in speed can significantly raise the risk of serious injury or death, especially in residential areas where pedestrians, children, and cyclists are more likely to be present.

    We will continue to carry out regular speed checks across the area to promote road safety and respond to community concerns.

    If you're concerned about speeding in your neighbourhood, consider joining Community Speed Watch, a great way to take positive action alongside your local policing team.

     

    As part of our continued efforts to address speeding and encourage safer driving behaviours, we recently deployed our Speed Indicator Device (SID) in both Whatlington and Northiam.

    The SID not only allows us to monitor traffic speeds but also acts as a visible deterrent, reminding drivers to check their speed and drive responsibly. While on site, we were pleased to 

    These deployments form part of our broader commitment to educating motorists about the risks of speeding, particularly in residential areas where pedestrians, children, and cyclists are more vulnerable.

    We remain committed to listening to community concerns and taking proactive steps to keep our roads safe for everyone.

    If you're concerned about speeding in your area, you can make a difference by joining or starting a Community Speed Watch team. These volunteer-led groups work in partnership with police to monitor speeds and promote safer driving habits.

    To find out more, visit the official Community Speed Watch website.

     

    Help us keep Sussex safe

    If you saw or heard anything, or have any information about any incident in this message please contact us online, or call 101, quoting the reference number provided.

    Alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

    You can also visit our website at www.sussex.police.uk where you can find our easy to use online forms to report all non-emergencies to us.

    On our website you can also find police advice to keep you safe and help you understand the law, and also browse our crime prevention pages for first-hand knowledge, industry best practices and practical crime prevention advice from officers and specialist teams all across the police.

    Have you ever had a policing question that doesn't actually require direct police involvement to answer?

    Ask the Police is a great online source of information for the most frequently asked policing questions, visit www.askthe.police.uk/ for more information.

     

    Your local teams

    What's happening in your area?

    Get the latest crime statistics and advice, help us with appeals for information and find out what we’re doing to tackle crime in your area online here.

     


    Reply to this message

    Message Sent By
    Sharon Eldridge
    (Police, District Engagement Officer, Hastings & Rother)

    Neighbourhood Alert Cyber Essentials