“There’s no place for hate in Sussex”: New District Commander for Chichester and Arun addresses concerns in Chichester

Chief Inspector Hutchings was appointed District Commander for Chichester and Arun in September 2026, having joined the force 23 years ago. While she hails from the Midlands, she has lived in West Sussex for more than 20 years and says she has “a real sense of how people are feeling.”

“I’m newly in post and have been here for two months now,” she said. “In terms of my priorities, they are around the force priorities – so to protect our communities, catch criminals and deliver an outstanding service.”

When asked which issues stand out most, CI Hutchings responded that anti-social behaviour is not only a real concern, but is the most visible issue to residents.

“I suppose it’s the perception,” she said. “You don’t see burglary, for example, as much as you see anti-social behaviour, so it’s the perception of those crimes that we really need to work on.”

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) is legally defined as conduct that causes or is likely to cause alarm, distress or harassment to a person not of the same household, and covers activities from environmental damage and noise nuisance to public disorder and verbal harassment.

CI Hutchings explained that a major priority for her is cracking down on ASB, whether that be the use of e-bikes and e-scooters or drug use and street drinking.

“We’ve seized 14 e-bikes and e-scooters in Bognor alone, so we are taking robust action,” she said. “There’s now a force-wide operation, Operation Scramble, to support that. So we are not only looking at it from my local policing teams, but with the support of our wider policing teams.”

She added that drug use and street drinking are often more complex, with Sussex Police working alongside charities and councils to support people and tackle concerns.

Neighbourhood crime such as burglary and theft, on the other hand, is down according to police statistics.

“In Chichester and Bognor Regis, neighbourhood crime is down,” CI Hutchings said. “They are both safe places to live, work and visit. I understand that we need to build on that perception, and there is still lots of work to be done to address anti-social behaviour, but we do take steps to support that.”

One issue recognised by the Chichester Observer is discrimination, with actor and comedian Munya Chawawa recently describing Chichester as one of the most racist, xenophobic and homophobic places he has visited.

In October 2026 alone, there were two reported homophobic hate crimes, both of which are currently being investigated by Sussex Police.

When asked about these concerns, CI Hutchings responded: “Hate crime is really concerning, especially for victims. I do understand the impact that it can have. We – Sussex Police and myself as District Commander – take it really seriously.”

She explained that her policing teams aim to not only follow relevant lines of inquiry when a victim comes forward, but to take what she describes as ‘positive action’. Hate Crime Awareness Week, for example, took place from October 10 to 17, with Sussex Police conducting 120 targeted patrols across Chichester.

Referring to the homophobic hate crime that occurred on October 13, she said: “We have taken positive action. We’ve made an arrest – it’s an ongoing investigation, so I can’t comment any further.

“There’s no place for hate in Sussex. I really urge people to come forward to report incidents, and they will be taken seriously.”

CI Hutchings really emphasised the importance of reporting crime, explaining that it is the most effective way to build a picture of ongoing issues within the community.

“I know it sometimes sounds like a stuck record, but we build a picture, and that picture then allows me to target the resources that I can manage in the right places – and also seek further support from other force resources,” she said.

In terms of tangible action, she explained that ASB legislation, nighttime economy patrols, and policing teams using their powers and working alongside action groups and councils are ways in which she is planning to tackle ASB and create a safer environment for residents.

“I take it really seriously. I’m super passionate about it,” she said.

The new District Commander added that Sussex Police holds regular meetings where residents can share concerns and learn what policing teams are doing in their communities – something she hopes to see more people attending under her post.

“The main thing I’d love to achieve is that our community feels safe here, and that we’re actually really proud of where we live, work and visit,” she said.

“I want to really encourage engagement – to increase the number of people completing victim surveys when they’ve had an interaction with Sussex Police, and the number coming to our engagement events. [I want to see] people reaching out and sharing their concerns, so that we can work together.”