“Gareth Jones and his beloved dog Connie tragically drowned at sea in East Sussex on 16 January 2021. His son Robbie has joined members of the National Water Safety Forum and worked with East Sussex FRS, HM Coastguard and RNLI, to share his story for a new water safety video about the dangers of open water in bad weather. Our thoughts are with Gareth’s family and friends. We thank Robbie for sharing his story”.

The following Hyperlink will be hard to watch, but it does highlight the dangers the sea can bring.

Please remember the potential dangers of swimming in the sea.

If you find yourself struggling in the water, Float to Live, lay on your back, Float to live, relax, and try to breath normally, tilt you head back and submerge your ears, spread your arms and legs to help with stability, use your hands to help you stay afloat, Call for help.

Teach children the important skills on how to stay safe at the beach and in the water. 

Remember, when the red flag is high, stay dry, do not swim. 

#Don’tDrinkandDrown - In an emergency call 999 or 112

Livestock worrying poses a significant challenge for agricultural communities. To address this, the Rural Crime Team (RCT) has actively engaged with local farmers to gain a deeper understanding of the issue's magnitude. 

Discover the most recent updates from RCT here and explore their activities in our latest feature on rural affairs.

Are you or anyone you know currently experiencing a mental health crisis?

We’re highlighting three free Sussex support services, accessible around the clock and completely free of charge. Please share this vital information with anyone who may benefit from it.

We have launched a new initiative to better target help and welfare support for people in Sussex.

Right Care Right Person is a national police programme being rolled out across the UK, as part of ongoing work between police forces, health providers, and local and national government.

Police forces across the country have seen an increasing amount of their time being utilised to respond to calls about health and social care, particularly those relating to mental health.

Sussex Police receives an average of 57,500 calls a year for medical concerns with the majority being welfare checks, this accounts for a large majority of contact received.

Read more here 

Not wearing a seatbelt can be a Fatal decision! #Fatal5

It is widely acknowledged that the act of wearing a seatbelt is essential for safeguarding occupants in a vehicle. However, a small contingent will still gamble with their own safety and that of others.

Not wearing a seatbelt doubles the risk of severe injury or death in the event of an accident.

We are steadfast in our commitment to reinforcing this critical safety message through both educational initiatives and, when necessary, targeted enforcement actions.

Scammers frequently prey on the elderly and vulnerable in our communities, through telephone scams.

So, what are some common types of phone scams? 

⚠️ Bank scams

Watch out for calls supposedly from your bank about fraudulent use of your bank account or bank cards. Scammers might ask you for your PIN and tell you to give your bank card to a courier. Your bank would never do this. 

⚠️ Undercover police scams

These can be calls from someone claiming to be the 'undercover police', claiming that they're investigating a member of staff at your bank and asking for your card details. The police would never ask you to take part in an investigation like this.

⚠️ Computer or mobile phone repair scams

The person may call and tell you that your device has a virus, and that you need to download software to fix it. This is actually spyware – an unwanted programme that runs on your device and can give scammers access to all your online information.

⚠️ HMRC scams

You may get a call from someone claiming to be from HMRC saying there's an issue with your tax refund or an unpaid tax bill. They may leave a message and ask you to call back. HMRC would never contact you this way and would never ask you to reveal personal financial information such as your bank account details.

⚠️ Council Tax scams

Calls claiming to be about correcting your Council Tax band or giving you a Council Tax rebate. Your council would never call you about a rebate out of the blue.

⚠️ Texts with fake links

You might receive a text asking you to follow a link to fix a problem with one of your accounts or to track a parcel. These links will often take you to a fake website and get you to log in, which scammers can then use to access your information.

⚠️ Fake caller ID

Scammers can mimic an official telephone number, which can trick you into thinking the caller is from a legitimate organisation, such as a bank or utility company.  

Just because someone knows your basic details doesn't mean they're legitimate. These details could include your name, address, your mother's maiden name and even your Direct Debits.

Never give anyone your personal information, such as your PIN. Hang up the phone if you suspect the caller is not genuine. 

Be vigilant, as scammers may maintain an open connection on your phone line after you've ended a call. To confirm the line is clear, either use an alternate phone to call a trusted contact or wait 15 minutes before making a call to verify the legitimacy of the initial communication.

For those interested in keeping abreast of the latest in fraud prevention and protecting their finances, we recommend visiting our website here  for more information. You can also pick up a 'Little Book of Big Scams' from your local police station.

If you know someone who is not on social media, or someone that could be at risk who might not be informed about recent scams, please consider obtaining a booklet for them.

You can report anything scam related or fraudulent to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk/contact-us

A prolific shoplifter has been jailed for more than two years following a number of shoplifting incidents in East Sussex.

The male was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment when he appeared before Lewes Crown Court on 18 April.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary, two counts of shoplifting and one count of using threatening behaviour to cause distress when he appeared before court on 21 September. 

The male has now been jailed. When appearing for sentencing, he was also handed a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order. 

This order prohibits him to enter any retail establishment he has previously committed offences in or has been banned from, as well has wearing anything which obscures his head and face in a retail premises. 

If he is asked to leave by a store worker, he has to comply and must not act in an anti-social manner.

We met up with parking enforcement officers in Ore Village to deal with the ongoing parking issue.

During our patrol, we successfully moved on 28 vehicles that were illegally parked, with one obstructing the loading bay. Plus, we issued a fine to a motorist for illegal parking on zigzags.

We would like to stress that parking issues are in the main dealt with by ESCC. You can contact them here 

While on daily foot Patrols in the Old Town Hastings, we popped into All Saints Church, where we had the opportunity to talk with

 those visiting the church and the church wardens, discussing upcoming events and recent reports of anti-social behaviour in the grounds. 

We also got the chance to appreciate the amazing craftsmanship of the church’s architecture, both inside and out.

The dedicated volunteers at Community Speed Watch have been instrumental in bolstering road safety across Hastings & Rother, an effort for which they occasionally require our additional support.

In a collaborative effort, we joined forces with the team on Tuesday, on Crowhurst Road in Hastings, fully equipped with our speed camera.

We were not surprised to find two motorists travelling at over 40MPH in a designated 30MPH zone. Consequently, both drivers were issued Traffic Offence Reports (TOR). 

Witnessing the perils of speeding on a daily basis, we remain committed to addressing this prevalent issue with unwavering determination.

106MPH!

Combe Valley Way. Not a good look for a driver being summoned to court within 2 years of getting a licence!

Update!

Female (50) of Clifton Road, Hastings, appeared in court on April 4th for several counts of shoplifting.

Magistrates have issued the female with a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) to run for 2 years as of 10/04/2024.

The CBO states, the female must not

⛔ Enter Boots the chemist, Kings Walk, Priory Meadow Hastings

⛔ Enter Primark, Queens Square, Priory Meadow Hastings

⛔ Enter Marks & Spencer, Kings Walk, Priory Meadow Hastings

⛔ Greggs, Queens Road Hastings

⛔ Enter Kokoro, Wellington Place Hastings

⛔ Remain on any retail Premises within the county of Sussex after being asked to leave by the owner or any member of Staff employed by that premises, or any security staff operating at that premises. 

She has also received a 16-week custodial sentence.

Fully equipped and prepared for duty, we recently had the pleasure of hosting a number of families for a comprehensive tour of Hastings Police Station. 

The visit gave us the opportunity to talk about our role within the community and the diverse range of careers available within Sussex Police.

The children were particularly thrilled to explore our patrol vehicles and receive hands-on demonstrations of the specialised equipment we utilise in our day-to-day operations. One of the youngsters has shown an interest in joining, but of course, we’re a few years off signing him up!

The Hastings Pod is in a prime location at the heart of the town, serving as a pivotal point for addressing issues of anti-social behaviour and deterring retail theft. Its central positioning is instrumental for Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) to efficiently deal with issues at hand and facilitate swift reporting and subsequent arrests. 

In addition, Hastings Pod plays a vital role in fostering community engagement. A recent chat highlighted the challenges faced by a wheelchair user resident whose access was impeded by vehicles parking on the pavement close to her home. Although the offending vehicle was not present when we responded a short time later, we have contacted ESCC and will continue to try and resolve the issue while on our patrols.

In a concerted and collaborative effort, the Hastings Neighbourhood Policing Team joined forces with the adult social care, substance misuse services, and housing authorities to conduct comprehensive welfare assessments for individuals in the Hastings, Bexhill and St Leonards area, at risk of, or previously affected by, cuckooing. This initiative represents a multi-faceted strategy to address the needs of the community's most vulnerable members.

As a result, a local male, who had breached court bail conditions by failing to report to the police station as required, was arrested at one of the premises.

This ongoing, monthly initiative underscores our commitment to safeguarding the vulnerable and reinforcing the fabric of our community through sustained and collaborative engagement.

What is cuckooing?

Cuckooing is when organised crime groups, gangs or drug dealers target and exploit vulnerable people by using their home as a base for dealing drugs. Cuckooing allows criminals to work from a property rather than the street. This allows drug deals to happen out of sight from the police. Drugs, money and weapons may also be stored at the property. Vulnerable people in cuckooed properties are often coerced into allowing their property to be used. This could be through the offer of ‘free’ drugs, food, or the threat of violence.

With reports of vehicle breaks in the area of Hastings this week, here are a few simple steps to protect your vehicle.

🔴Consistently Lock Your Vehicle: Always lock your car, even for short periods. If your car has automatic wing mirrors, ensure they fold in to signal the car is locked, deterring thieves.

🔴Shut Windows and Sunroof: Keep windows and the sunroof closed to prevent thieves from 'fishing' for items or unlocking your car.

🔴Use Tamper-Resistant Screws on Number Plates: Secure your license plates with security screws to make it harder for thieves to steal and misuse them.

🔴Secure Your Wheels: Protect your alloy wheels with locking, anti-tamper nuts to prevent theft.

🔴Take Valuables with You: Don't leave valuable items like phones, change, sunglasses or coats in your car, as they attract thieves. Essential items like wallets and purses should never be left behind.

🔴Conceal Electronic Devices: Avoid leaving mounts, suction cup marks, or cables that indicate the presence of electronic devices in your car

🔴Protect Tools in Vans: Mark tools with your name and address, secure them in a locked cabinet, and consider installing a vehicle camera. Record the serial numbers and consider registering them online.

🔴Park Smart: Choose busy, well-lit areas to park, making it riskier for thieves to target your vehicle.

Reporting a crime – Click, Call, Connect

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.

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

If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired, you can contact us using TypeTalk on 18000 or by sending a text to 65999.