Cyber crime on the rise, Sussex police commissioner tells Chichester Rotarians

Members of Chichester Harbour, Priory and Arundel Rotary Clubs and their guests turned out at Chichester Park Hotel on Wednesday, November 30.

Mrs Bourne, the Sussex Police and crime commissioner, highlighted cyber crime, or the ‘dark web’, as an area of major concern, particularly the combatting of historical child abuse.

This, at a time of a shrinking finance, took one-eighth of the police budget, she said.

Mrs Bourne said terrorist activity was also on the increase, necessitating armed response, to which end a regional response hub was being established at Gatwick.

Sussex, a popular area for retirees, was proving a magnet for burglary and Mrs Bourne stressed the value of restorative justice, with offenders and victims meeting following a crime. She called it ‘massively powerful’ in preventing re-offending.

The commissioner concluded by answering a range of questions on largely local issues from an appreciate audience.

Mrs Bourne was introduced by Ken Holmes, president of Chichester Harbour Club, with a vote of thanks being proposed by Chichester Priory’s president, Mike Harvey.

District governor, Frank West, gave the Loyal Toast, and Grace was said by George Rose, president of Arundel Rotary Club.

The evening was organised by David Warwick, of Chichester Harbour Club, who also gave the final toast: ‘Rotary and peace the world over.’