Editorial

Looking at data from to current, crime remains relatively low in the beat code for your location. Below are reports made to Sussex Police in the mentioned date range. Please note that the information has been redacted, meaning no other details of these reports will be shared.

25/06/2024 – Lower Willingdon - Report of a motorcycle riding recklessly

24/06/2024 – Lower Willingdon - Report of anti-social behaviour and cannabis use

18/06/2024 – Jevington – Report of sheep in the road, Dealt with by Wealden NPT

18/06/2024 – Willingdon – Reports of rogue traders attempting to sell roofing within the Willingdon area. Dealt with by Wealden NPT This is becoming a more common occurrence throughout Wealden with a common rouse to be that they are working on another house in the area and have noticed that a roof tile is loose. If anyone is ever unsure of the legitimacy of a tradesperson do not hesitate to call 999 in an emergency or 101 for any other situation. Enquiries can also be made to East Sussex Trading Standards.

17/06/2024 – Jevington – Youths on a motorcycle riding recklessly

16/06/2024 – Upper Willingdon – Youths causing ASB in the area, dealt with by Wealden NPT

03/06/2024 – Upper Willingdon – Found stolen moped, Dealt with by Wealden NPT.

These are the crime reports for the month that I have deemed to have a potential impact on the community that I am able to share. Full crime statistics can be found on the government website for local crime statistics but they do not offer a description only a crime type so I hope the above can give some clarity.

OPERATION DOWNSWAY

Wealden NPT (neighbourhood policing team) continue with our Operation Downsway activity reducing KSI’s (killed and seriously injured) on our roads and PC’s and PCSO’s across the district have been positively engaging with motorists, completing speed checks, supporting Community speed watch sessions, as well as monitoring mobile phone and seatbelt checks on drivers.

OPERATION TERRAIN / MOTORCYCLE THEFTS

Wealden NPT has been very proactive around Op Terrain relating to a spate of stolen motorcycles in the Wealden and Eastbourne area.  This has been of large focus to Wealden NPT and to me within Willingdon as there has been an increase in stolen motorbikes being found in the Willingdon area.

I am aware of the huge increase in reports of motorcycles riding recklessly off and on road and our RPU (Roads Policing Unit) along with NRT (Neighbourhood Response Teams) are working tirelessly to charge those involved as well as trying to identify other individuals not yet known to police.

As Wealden NPT we have increased the number of patrols within the Willingdon, Jevington and Polegate areas as these are the areas being most affected by stolen as well as reckless driving incidents with motorcycles. We have increased our police presence through the use of DPA (Directed Patrol Activity) and I can assure you all teams within Wealden NPT are aware of the problems affecting the community currently.

All I can ask for residents is their continued reporting of these incidents to help us build a picture of what times and where these offenders are riding these motorcycles.

OPERATION AVENGE

Op Avenge is our response in Sussex to the significant rise in organised keyless vehicle theft, mainly perpetrated by organised crime groups, that present a high level of threat, risk and harm. 

Op Avenge delivers focussed targeted operational activity to catch organised crime thieves and deter vehicles stolen by keyless means.

Oversight, data capture, and intelligence are overseen by the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), however Op Avenge is an adopted force priority and therefore is supported at a force-wide level.

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On Wednesday 12th June at our Seven Sisters Road site, Willingdon Community Speed Watch team recorded 12 vehicles travelling above the speed limit the fastest vehicle was travelling at 55mph along this 30mph road, all the vehicles details have been sent to Sussex Police to be dealt with by them.

Sandra and Ray, Willingdon Community Speed-watch at their site in Seven Sisters Road today Wednesday 1st May where 12 vehicles were registered speeding at an average of 12mph above the speed limit of 30mph, one motorbike was registered driving at 65mph along this 30mph road. All vehicle details have been sent to Sussex Police to be dealt with by them.

On Thursday 11 January 2024, Sussex Police and Sussex Neighbourhood Watch Federation signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as they agreed to continue the collaboration between their organisations.Neighbourhood Watch have a proud and proven history as a crime-fighting charity and have over 3,000 volunteer co-ordinators and deputies across the county. The Neighbourhood Watch schemes cover over 100,000 households in Sussex, providing a voice to residents, offering advice and information and conducting vital research.

Sussex Police and Neighbourhood Watch work together to maintain the Neighbourhood Alert system (also known as Sussex Alerts). The system which currently has over 29,000 subscribers across Sussex is crucial in delivering non-commercial messages from selected key information providers such as the police, Neighbourhood Watch, Action Fraud and Get Safe Online. The system also encourages recipients to reply to the alerts and messages.

The updated MoU outlines how Neighbourhood Watch will support Sussex Police to deliver on their top three priorities: protect communities, catch criminals and deliver an outstanding service to victims, witnesses and the public.

It also sets out how Sussex Police will support and assist Neighbourhood Watch as an organisation, facilitating and maintaining engagement between volunteers and police officers, particularly with Sussex Police’s Neighbourhood Policing Teams.

In August last year, the Sussex Neighbourhood Watch Federation was funded over £25,000 by Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner, Katy Bourne. The funding is being used by Neighbourhood Watch to train more volunteers and further improve and enhance their communications systems, strengthening residents’ feelings of safety and improving access to crime prevention advice and important support services.

Attending the event, Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne OBE said: “My office and Sussex Police work alongside so many dedicated volunteers who selflessly give their time, helping to make Sussex an even safer county.

“Neighbourhood Watch are an invaluable partner in this work. Their broad and diverse range of committed volunteers help us to reach every corner of our county, delivering important information, guidance and advice whilst helping to re-build public confidence in policing.”

Sussex Police Assistant Chief Constable Howard Hodges said: “It’s a great honour to have been able to sign this agreement, which builds upon the excellent working relationship already established between Sussex Police and Neighbourhood Watch, which is highly valued in the local community.”

John Wright MBE, Chair of the Sussex Neighbourhood Watch Federation, said: “Our previous MoU with Sussex Police was agreed in 2018, but things have moved on in the past 5 years, so it was appropriate for this to be updated.

“Effective two-way communications between the Police, Neighbourhood Watch and the public are very important. These enable the police to receive actionable intelligence, Neighbourhood Watch schemes across Sussex and other members of the public to be aware of recent incidents and trends and to receive crime prevention and community safety advice, always encouraging residents to come together, help each other and help to keep Sussex a safe place to be."

Derek Pratt MBE, Deputy Chair of the Sussex Neighbourhood Watch Federation, added: “Neighbourhood Watch has partnered Sussex Police for many years in maintaining the Neighbourhood Alert communications system, also referred to as Sussex Alerts, which anybody can sign up to free of charge, and receive timely updates on significant events in their area. This information is accurate and from reliable sources which can be trusted."

For more information about Sussex Neighbourhood Watch: www.sussexnwfed.org.uk

To sign up to Sussex Alerts: Home Page - Sussex Alerts

The new MoU can be seen online: https://www.sussexnwfed.org.uk/documents/sussexnwfed.org.uk/45178_Sussex_Police_MOU.pdf .