Sussex Alerts - Eastbourne Police

Friday 12th December 2025

Sussex Alerts - Eastbourne Police

Live Facial Recognition Technology comes to Eastbourne

Earlier this week, residents and visitors to the town centre may have noticed one of our Live Facial Recognition vans stationed up on Terminus Road.

The deployment provided an extra set of eyes to help deter crime, protect people from harm, and locate individuals wanted by police, and helped to support our Winter of Action initiative designed to deliver an enhanced policing presence in town centres during the busy lead-up to Christmas.

The van was staffed by specialist officers and supported by local policing teams on the ground, who spent time speaking with residents about the technology and answering questions.

Thank you to everyone who engaged with us — together we’re working to keep Eastbourne safe this Christmas.

Find out more about Live Facial Recognition here.

Keeping You Safe This Festive Season

Today our officers were in the shopping centre raising awareness about spiking and crimes linked to violence against women and girls, including unwanted behaviours or sexual advances. 

With Christmas parties and New Year celebrations approaching, we want everyone to feel safe when enjoying a night out.

Our teams were on hand to give out useful information on support channels such as Ask for Angela, and the SafeSpaces scheme, as well as practical tools to help you stay safe, including personal safety alarms and anti-spiking drink toppers you can take with you.

We were joined by a range of partner organisations who work alongside us to support victims and offer help when it’s needed most, including partners Mother's Union, Grow Change Live and Intervention Alliance.

More support and advice around the signs to spot in spiking and what to do can be found online here.

Keeping your town safe this Winter

From tackling town centre crime, shop theft, and anti-social behaviour to arresting known shoplifters and even reuniting lost shoppers; our high-visibility Safer Streets Winter patrols have already seen officers conduct over 130 hours of dedicated patrols across the town centre in the last two weeks.

Officers have been out working closely with local businesses to provide reassurance, deter crime, protect staff and customers, as well as share crime prevention advice, and respond quickly to your concerns—helping ensure the town centre remains a safe and welcoming place to shop and visit this winter.

In the run-up to Christmas, residents and shoppers can expect to see more patrols, targeted operations against offenders, and ongoing partnership work with local organisations to keep Eastbourne safe for everyone.

See or hear anything we need to know about?

Let us know at the time, or report online, or by calling 101 (all non-emergencies), and always by calling 999 in an emergency/crime in action.

Don’t Let Scammers Steal Your Christmas Cheer!

We’ve unwrapped the latest little book of big scams and want to share what we’ve found, so you and your family can enjoy a safe and scam-free Christmas.

Scams are forever evolving, so it pays to stay alert.

Especially around the festive period; be cautious of fake delivery texts and emails that look convincing but are designed to steal your details. Watch out for online shopping deals that seem too good to be true—they usually are. And remember, never share personal or banking information over unsolicited calls or messages.

Stay safe, stay smart, and make sure the only surprises you unwrap are this year are those under the tree!

Obtain a copy of the latest little book of big scams from your local police station/police contact point, or download a copy on our Sussex Police website here.

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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