Sussex Alerts - Lewes and Seahaven Police

Friday 19th December 2025

Sussex Alerts - Lewes and Seahaven Police

Dear Residents,

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, and a prosperous New Year.

Please note that there will be no alert next week (WC 22nd December).

Festive patrols this week

This week, officers have been out and about across the district on a number of patrols, engaging with local community groups, meeting residents, and speaking with shoppers ahead of Christmas.

Local officers for Newick were kindly invited along to the Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary’s Church, where they joined a festive event bringing the community together to see all the different community decorated trees, including a Police themed one (pictured).

Elsewhere, officers hosted a meet-and-greet at Big Park in Peacehaven, joined by councillors, where they spoke with residents about local issues and concerns, offered crime prevention advice, and shared updates on recent reports.

They also added some festive cheer for children by opening up the police car and turning on the blue lights for youngsters to explore.

Patrols across the district continue this week, if you're out and about, Christmas shopping, visiting the area, of meeting up with friends and you see of hear anything we need to know about; stop and tell us at the time.

Contact us 24/7, 365 online or by calling 101 (all non-emergencies), in an emergency always call 999.

Operation Downsway

As part of our ongoing commitment to safer roads, officers were out in Seaford last weekend carrying out targeted patrols to tackle dangerous driving and address vehicle-related offences.

During the checks, officers seized the pictured vehicle under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002 after it was seen being driven in an anti-social manner, despite previously receiving words of advice.

While awaiting recovery, officers were alerted to a quad bike which was also seized under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 after checks revealed no insurance, no MOT, and that it was declared SORN.

The rider was reported for the offences.

Vehicle safety checks are an important part of these patrols, helping us tackle anti-social behaviour and dangerous driving, as well as reduce risks, prevent collisions, and keep our communities safe.

Winter of Action Seaford (WOA)

Sussex Police and partners are stepping up activity throughout December and January as part of the national Safer Streets Winter of Action initiative.

Building on the success of the Safer Streets Summer programme, this winter campaign targets town centre criminality, shop theft, street crime, and anti-social behaviour.

Already in the last two weeks, over 210 additional hours have been given to patrolling Seaford Town Centre under this initiative, a number of stop searches conducted, with 3 arrests, and a FPN (fixed penalty notice) issued in the last week.

WOA also addresses issues in the night-time economy, with a particular focus on tackling violence against women, alcohol-related disorder, and spiking.

Local communities will see more police patrols, officers collaborating closely with shops, venues, and local organisations, and swift action to address the concerns that matter most to residents.

This winter, hotspot policing patrols continue and will focus on busy shopping days, festive events, and areas where vulnerable people may need support.

Domestic abuse, please don’t suffer in silence.

If you are suffering from domestic abuse this festive period we urge you to call us or speak to an officer.

Please put your trust in us – there is hope after abuse and taking the steps to report it will get you closer to a safer, brighter future.

You can call 101 or 999 in an emergency, if you call 999 but can’t speak, press 55 to get through to the police.

We are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days per week - we will listen to you, we will take your situation seriously and we will leave you safer than before you called us.

Contact us

For non-emergency incidents or crime prevention advice, click www.sussex.police.uk (If you report a crime online, we will assess it in the same way as a 101 call).  

Call 101 when you do not require an urgent response. In an emergency when life is threatened or there is immediate danger always call 999.  

Speak to us face-to-face at a police station or contact the local policing team at www.sussex.police.uk/area/your-area.  

If you have a hearing or speech impairment, or other forms of communication difficulties.

Those with textphone can text 18001 101, or BSL users can use SignVideo to provide a Video Relay Service (here: https://signvideo.co.uk/), to report crime through a live online interpreter, who will contact the police on your behalf, when you do not require an urgent response.

In an emergency when life is threatened or there is immediate danger please use the textphone service 18000 or text us on 999.

BSL users can call 999 BSL (here: https://999bsl.co.uk/)  to use a British Sign Language interpreter.

For more information on textphone and Relay UK please visit: https://www.relayuk.bt.com/how-to-use-relay-uk/contact-999-using-relay-uk.html.

Help setting up Relay APP: https://www.relayuk.bt.com/help/how-to-video

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