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Local News September |
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Stay Alert – Deer on Roads If you hit or see an injured deer:
🚗 How Secure Is Your Keyless Car? Keyless entry vehicles offer convenience, but they also present opportunities for criminals. Increasingly, thieves are targeting these cars using a method known as relay theft. What is relay theft? Protect Your Vehicle – Simple Steps Can Make a Big Difference: Need to Report Something?
No one should have to experience the distress of being a victim of burglary. It can have a lasting impact on a person’s wellbeing and sense of security. To help protect yourself and your property, here are some practical steps you can take: • Lock your door when you’re at home as well as when you go out • Consider an alarm and or CCTV • Keep your windows shut or consider fitting window restrictors if you like to leave the window open. Good window locks can make all the difference • Leave a light on, use a timer switch when not at home • Hide all valuables, including car keys, out of sight and away from the letterbox
Outside your house • Store ladders and tools that can be used to assist in home entry in a shed or garage that is secured with a strong lock • Ensure your shed/garage is locked when not in use • Trim overgrown plants and shrubs, so there aren’t any hiding places for burglars • Don’t hide keys in obvious places, like outside the front door. Burglars will often look in the letterbox or under a plant pot as a matter of course • Secure side/back gates with good bolts / locks that are not accessible from outside If you find someone trying to enter your home, call 999 immediately.
Having anything stolen, can be both emotionally distressing and financially damaging. This is especially true when high-value items and tools are stolen. Unfortunately, even when we recover stolen property during investigations, we are often unable to return many items to their rightful owners due to a lack of identifiable markings. To help address this issue, we are distributing free DNA property marking kits. These kits contain a special liquid that allows you to mark your property – mobility scooters, tools, bikes, and other valuable equipment with a unique identifier. The markings are invisible to the naked eye but can be detected under UV light, significantly increasing the chances of stolen property being returned. If you would like a free DNA property marking kit, you can pick one up from Battle or Hastings Police Station, or the Hastings Pod. Please visit our website for opening times.
Yesterday, we were proud to stand alongside our emergency service colleagues from East Sussex Fire & Rescue and Sussex Ambulance, as well as many inspiring individuals, at the Baton of Hope Tour. We recognise the vital importance of supporting mental health prevention. By working collaboratively with our partner agencies, we aim to provide compassionate, proactive support to those in crisis and help raise awareness across our communities. We know that mental health challenges can affect anyone, and there is help available for those who need to talk. Local Support Services Staying Well Hastings (Southdown & Sussex Partnership NHS Trust) Text Support (SHOUT Sussex) National Mental Health Helplines
As part of our commitment to building stronger community ties, I had the pleasure of attending an inspiring Interfaith Meeting at the Conquest Hospital Education Centre in Hastings. The event featured Dr Miland Jani, a GP and surgeon from Brighton Hospital, who spoke about the Ayurvedic approach to health and its connection to Hindu beliefs in healing through prayer and mindfulness. Also in attendance were Mrs Sheila Levy and Mr Mike Levy, representing the Reform Judaism movement, who gave a thoughtful talk on Judaism’s role in healing. This was a great event, encouraging cooperation between all faiths, promoting understanding, and tackling stigma or misconceptions. Together, we’re sending a clear message: respect, and unity across communities make us stronger.
Appeal for Information – Criminal Damage at All Saints Church, Sidley We’re appealing for information following an incident of criminal damage at All Saints Church in Sidley, where marbles were thrown at the west side windows, causing significant damage. This follows previous reports of eggs being thrown at the church doors, and sadly, this marks the fifth window-related incident this year. These repeated acts are not only distressing for the local community but also result in costly repairs for the church. While the exact time of the latest incident is unclear, it is believed to have occurred on or around 31st August. Did you see or hear anything suspicious in the area? Let’s work together to keep our community safe and respectful for everyone.
Rother Neighbourhood Policing Team remain firmly committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and crime, focusing on known hotspots as part of the #HotSpotPolicing and #SaferStreetsSummer initiative. Inspector Simon Whitehead and District Commander Simon Yates recently joined Councillors Glenn Haffenden, leader of Hastings Borough Council and lead for Community Safety, and Cllr Jimmy Stanger, from Rother Safer Partnership for a walkabout in Bexhill, reinforcing our visible presence and strong partnership with local authorities. Thanks to the relentless work of our officers and effective collaboration, Bexhill has seen a reduction in ASB. Arrests are being made, and enforcement measures such as Criminal Behaviour Orders are being used to protect the public and deter repeat offenders. Robust patrols will continue. We will not tolerate anti-social or criminal behaviour, and we remain resolute in our mission to keep Bexhill safe for everyone who lives, works, and visits here.
Today I attended two community meetings in Burwash and Brightling alongside Steve O’Connell from our Sussex Police Casualty Reduction Team. Both meetings were productive, and unsurprisingly, many of those who came along raised concerns around speeding and other road-related issues. As PCSOs, we’re here to listen and respond to what matters most to our communities. Speeding continues to be a key concern, especially in rural areas, and we’re working closely with partners to address these issues. Around these meetings, we also carried out speed checks in and around the Battle area to support ongoing efforts to improve road safety. Road safety is a growing focus, particularly around inconsiderate driving near horses and vulnerable road users. Steve provided valuable input on this and has taken several actions away to follow up. We’re committed to being visible, accessible, and responsive to the concerns of our communities, whether that’s through patrols, meetings, or direct engagement.
While on patrol in Bexhill, officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team identified a driver previously stopped just two weeks ago for having no insurance. At the time, the driver was summoned to court for the offence but obtained insurance at the roadside to avoid his car being seized. However, during a recent stop on Cornwall Road, checks revealed the driver had once again allowed the policy to lapse, leaving the vehicle uninsured. As a result, officers promptly seized the vehicle under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act. The driver now faces two summonses, a likely penalty of 12 points on their licence, and a substantial fine. Neighbourhood officers remain committed to keeping our roads safe and holding repeat offenders to account. Regular patrols and proactive enforcement help protect the public and deter unlawful driving.
🏍️ Motorbike Seized – Rider Reported Neighbourhood officers in Bexhill stopped a rider on Southlands Avenue after they were seen riding a motorbike without a crash helmet, having travelled through various parts of the town. Further checks revealed: ❌ No driving licence The motorbike was immediately seized, and the rider has been summoned to court for multiple road traffic offences. This is not harmless fun, it’s illegal, reckless, and puts lives at risk.
Weekend Policing Summary Over the weekend, officers made a total of 16 arrests across the district in response to various incidents. These included: Our teams remain committed to proactive patrols, responding swiftly to incidents, and targeting those who commit crime in our neighbourhoods.
Dementia Awareness Event in Rye Neighbourhood Policing teams were proud to join @Health In Mind, A Touch of Gentleness, and other valued partners at an event organised by DISC Dementia at Tilling Green Community Centre in Rye. This community event was open to all and focused on supporting unpaid carers of those living with dementia. It provided a vital opportunity for individuals to connect with local organisations offering information, signposting, and referrals, helping people navigate the dementia journey from pre-diagnosis onwards. Events like this are a powerful reminder of the importance of community collaboration. Many families face significant challenges in accessing support and caring for loved ones affected by dementia. We remain dedicated to working alongside health and social care partners to ensure that no one feels alone in their caring role.
We know how important it is for people in Bexhill to feel safe where they live and work. That’s why we’ve continued with our daily presence in the area making sure concerns are heard and acted on. These patrols give us the chance to speak directly with residents and businesses about what’s happening locally. We’re addressing issues head-on and making sure those responsible for anti-social behaviour or crime are held accountable. We’re not just showing up, we’re taking action. Patrols will continue, and we’ll keep responding quickly and firmly to anything that threatens the safety or wellbeing of our community.
We had the pleasure of meeting the nursery children at All Saints in Sidley as part of our neighbourhood policing work. The children were fantastic listeners as we shared what it’s like to be in the police. They thoroughly enjoyed seeing our pictures of different police officers in their various roles, but their favourite was definitely the police dog! They asked brilliant questions and had a great time trying on real police hats and jackets. We were so impressed to see that the children had even created their own police car and police station in the classroom, where they love to play ‘cops and robbers’! Before we left, everyone received police stickers and colouring sheets to take home. Thank you for such a warm welcome, we had a wonderful time and can’t wait to visit again soon!
Off-Road Bike Seized Near Battle & Langton School Following reports of youths riding off-road motorbikes dangerously near Battle & Langton School, including riding on pavements, without helmets, and causing traffic disruption, PCSO Kemp located the group on Uckham Lane. Two of the bikes fled from the officer, and as no one claimed ownership of the remaining bike, it was seized. 🛑 These vehicles are not toys. When used irresponsibly, they can cause serious harm and lead to police intervention, including seizure and prosecution. They pose significant dangers to both riders and the public. We will be following up with home visits to speak directly with the parents or guardians of those involved. It’s vital that families understand the risks and responsibilities associated with off-road bike use, especially when it involves young people. Thank you to the resident who reported this, your call made a real difference.
Over the weekend, we arranged a community drop-in session for residents and workers in Robertsbridge and Salehurst, offering an opportunity to meet with us and discuss any local concerns. While no one attended the scheduled meeting, we took the opportunity to visit the Repair Café at Robertsbridge Village Hall, a fantastic neighbourhood initiative supported by Parish Councils that promotes repairing items instead of throwing them away. We were pleased to speak with many local residents who had come along to make use of the volunteer-run service, which helps fix broken items on the spot. On Monday, we also joined the Lunch Club at the Community Open Space in Staplecross Village Hall. It was great to chat with everyone, and we were fortunate to have PCSO Nasir with us, who speaks Polish and was able to engage with a lovely Polish resident. We’re pleased to report that no one had any police-related issues to raise, but we were able to share lots of useful crime prevention advice.
Community Spirit in Action! A big part of what we do as PCSOs is getting out and about, chatting with local residents and businesses, and sometimes we get lucky and bump into some truly inspiring young people! Last week, we had the pleasure of meeting the very enthusiastic 1st Little Common Cub Group while they were hard at work keeping the local park clean and litter-free. 💪🗑️ They were an absolute delight, full of energy, smiles, and great conversation, even while tackling a pretty tough job. We were seriously impressed by their dedication to making the community a better place. Well done, Cubs, you’re great ambassadors for Little Common!
Roads Policing Update Today, officers stopped a motorcycle on the A2100 in Battle on suspicion that the rider didn’t hold a full licence, and no L plates were displayed. Further enquires revealed - ✅ Expired provisional licence That’s a full house, and not the kind we like to see. The vehicle was seized on the spot, and the rider has been summoned to court for multiple notifiable offences. These aren’t just technicalities; they’re serious breaches that put everyone at risk. We’re here to keep our roads safe. If you're riding or driving, make sure you're legal, insured, and roadworthy. No excuses.
🎸 Neighbourhood Policing with a Rock 'n' Roll Twist! 🎤 PCSO Amir Nasir joined the ‘King’ today at Orchards House Care Home on St John’s Road in Bexhill Old Town, none other than John The King, Elvis tribute legend. Residents were all shook up (in the best way!) as John belted out Presley classics, turning a quiet Monday into a full-blown rock ‘n’ roll revival. From blue suede shoes to beaming faces, it was community engagement with rhythm and soul. And let’s just say… this wasn’t your average Jailhouse Rock. 🕺🎶 Huge thanks to the wonderful residents and staff for inviting us. a truly unforgettable visit. Just another day in the line of duty, keeping spirits high and connections strong!
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