Friday 9th May 2025

Sussex Alerts - Lewes and Seahaven Police

Additional patrols to tackle ASB in your areas

As we head into the warmer months we often see an increase in reports of both low level crime, and anti-social behaviour (ASB).

As such, your local Neighbourhood Policing Team will be conducting additional patrols in ‘hot-spot’ areas of ASB, during peak reporting times, not only in town centres, but also across local parks, seafronts and open spaces.

With directed patrols aimed at offering reassurances, and a visible police presence across your town to help keep communities safe; patrols will also be aimed at deterring and identifying those involved in ASB, and promptly responding to your reports of ASB or crimes in progress across the Lewes and Seahaven areas.

We understand that ASB can and does negatively impact communities and can significantly affect residents’ quality of life, and we are committed to continuing to provide high-visibility patrols during peak times across affected areas to help keep you safe.

Residents can contact their local policing team online or by calling 101 (non-emergency) to report any community concerns, local issues or anything the team need to know about.

All reports help to direct these types of patrols in areas which have seen an increase in, or an increase in the reporting of both ASB and criminality.

In an emergency / crime in action always call 999.

Dangerous driver sentenced over high speed pursuit near Hassocks

A dangerous driver caused serious injuries to a passenger after reaching speeds of 100mph near Hassocks, the 28 year old male, failed to stop for police while driving a Ford Fiesta on the A23 near Pyecombe.

He drove down Clayton Hill on the A273 on the wrong side of the carriageway before losing control, where the vehicle hit a phone box on a bend, leaving a passenger in the vehicle with serious injuries in the wreckage.

He was arrested and was charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving, at Lewes Crown Court on April 25 he appeared for sentencing after admitting the charge, where he was jailed for two years, and disqualified from driving for two years and eight months.

The court was told about how the incident happened after 2am on 8 December, 2023, after officers followed the Ford Fiesta as it drove out of Brighton on the A23, and activated blue lights after it reached speeds of 100mph in a 60mph zone.

The driver failed to negotiate a left-hand bend after driving on the wrong side of the carriageway, soon after the road was closed while the vehicle was recovered, and a woman suffered life-changing injuries while travelling as a passenger.

Speaking after the case, Sergeant Joe McGregor from the Surrey and Sussex Roads Policing Unit said: “this males driving was reckless and dangerous, we know that one in three collisions in Sussex occur because drivers are going too fast.

“Speeding is one of the main reasons why people are killed or seriously injured on our roads, and the man is incredibly lucky that he did not cause a fatality that night, but this collision continues to have a lasting impact on the victim - we are pleased that a dangerous driver has been taken off our roads.”

Protect your home by protecting your garden

Advice followig a small number of burglaries reported across the district this week, and as we head into the warmer months.

It may not seem obvious, but protecting your garden and outbuildings like sheds not only keeps bikes and other valuables safe, but can also stop burglars accessing tools to get into your home.

- Consider installing security lights both to illuminate your garden and deter thieves. Motion sensor lights switch on when movement is detected.

- Keep shrubs, bushes, hedges and plants cut back as they can provide a hiding place for thieves. 

-Check that all boundary fences, walls and gates are in good repair, a solid barrier is an excellent deterrent to an opportunist thief.

- Secure your shed; always keep your shed locked and secured, and make sure it is anchored down to prevent it from being lifted in order to gain access. Often sheds contain valuables such as power tools and bicycles.

- Never leave tools lying around; never leave tools lying around as they can be used as a way of breaking into your home.

More support, and online reporting here.

Operation Downsway Peacehaven

Late last week officers from your Lewes Neighbourhood Policing Team conducted a number of vehicle stop checks across the coast as part of our continued work to help keep all road users safe.

Drivers witnessed by officers using mobile phones or other distractions at the wheel were safety stopped, and directed away from the main road where a number of drivers were either educated about their driving or issued traffic offence reports (TORs) for any offences identified.
 

During the course of the morning many drivers were safety stopped and spoken to, with a total of three TORs being issued for offences including driving whilst not wearing a seatbelt, and driving whilst using a mobile phone.

Both these offences make for two of the fatal 5 driving offences, so called as they are the top 5 contributing factors to fatal collisions on the roads of Sussex each year.

Operation Downsway, which launched in April in East Sussex and will run through the summer months (in addition to regular checks 365 days of the year), and residents can expect to see an increased police presence on the roads of Sussex.

The aim of the operation is to help:

• Raise awareness of the fatal 5 driving offences
• Reduce the number of people who are killed or seriously injured on the roads of East Sussex
• Reduce the number of reported incidents of anti-social driving
• Increase public confidence in local policing through increased visibility and patrols
• Target those individuals who are prepared to drive on the roads in an anti-social or irresponsible manner

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