Lewes police chief talks about combating crime during the coronavirus pandemic

The chief inspector took on the role of Eastbourne and Lewes district commander three months ago and said she is enjoying the new job.

She said, “An eclectic mix of working in partnership with statutory and voluntary services, combined with fast moving and modern operational policing, this role is probably one of the most challenging during my police career.

“Of course, within a matter of weeks into my new job, we have all been faced with an unprecedented coronavirus pandemic.

“From the very beginning, I have taken on the additional responsibility to lead on the police response within East Sussex, referred to in the policing world as Operation Apollo. For all of us, this is nothing like anything we have experienced before and it has had a massive impact on the way we live and therefore, the way we police.

“The feedback I am getting and seeing for myself when on patrol, is a very positive and supportive approach from the public in general and the majority have adhered to the guidelines that have been set by the government.

“From the outset, Sussex Police has always recognised that policing is by consent and so it is for that very reason that the policing teams across East Sussex have been engaging, explaining and encouraging people to stay at home and only go out when essential.

“When proportionate to move towards enforcement, officers and PCSOs have been given the support to do just that and so a number of fixed penalty notices have been issued to those who refuse to stick to the rules. This has on occasions been people travelling to the coast from outside of Sussex, which is totally unnecessary and it is what you would expect us to do

“We have also seen a change in some of our crime types; for example, a reduction in thefts from shops and public place violent crime, but we are concerned about an increase in risk around offences such as domestic abuse and fraud offences, targeting those that are particularly vulnerable during the stay at home restrictions.

“Locally, we have seen some success with targeted police patrols, not just in response to reports around breaches of the coronavirus legislation, but we have arrested and charged two separate offenders for residential burglary in Eastbourne and disrupted several reports of drug supply and cultivation across Eastbourne and Lewes. Please do keep reporting anything that you see to help us maintain our effective police response despite the pandemic.

“I was working with the team in Eastbourne on Thursday evening (April 23) and so I am acutely aware of how hard local teams are working to deal with reports of anti-social behaviour and pockets of individuals who have no concept of the harm they may be causing by flouting the rules.

“Policing in this time has its challenges. We are asking our officers to deal with the risk of being exposed to the virus on a daily basis, but they do it with the utmost professionalism. We are all working hard to protect the NHS and save lives.

“On Thursday, as we approached 8pm, we were driving through the town and we saw the fantastic ovation from the public as they showed their appreciation. In 26 years I have never seen so much support for the work that we and other key workers do. Whilst this pandemic will change how we live our lives, I am determined to ensure that it will not change the positive work we and our partners are doing to maintain the safety and welfare of our local communities.

“Thank you to those of you who support and recognise the work that others are doing to keep us all safe, and to those that are doing that work, stay safe.”

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