Afraid to dial 999...

Residents believe criminals are eavesdropping police radio conversations using scanner equipment.

Tenants in Shelby Road, Durrington, have been given the number after they said they feared intimidation if they alert police to crime through the normal emergency system.

Inspector Martin Pattenden confirmed a small group of residents were given the number.

He said: "People in the community fear that if they are seen to be helping us, those concerned may take out retribution against them. They fear their details will be put over the radio network and they will no longer be anonymous.

"It is something the police are worried about and we know it is prevalent in Worthing."

Insp Pattenden said it was an operation specific to Durrington and said residents in other areas would not be issued with a mobile number.

He said: "I am doing this for a very small section of the community. There is a specific problem in that area and we have a lot of people in the community who are willing to help us."

One resident, who has yet to receive the number, said: "Some people around here are worried about contacting the police through 999 because youths on the estate listen-in."

Insp Pattenden said the problem would be resolved by the introduction of the new Airwave communication technology, which would be used by police from July.

This means that conversations on emergency service radio networks will not be picked-up on conventional scanners.

Current scanners, which include special features to snoop on police frequencies, can be bought for as little as 20.

Responding to residents' claims they were scared to report crime and anti-social behaviour over fears of reprisal, police spokeswoman Jill Pedersen said: "We have not had any reports of witnesses being intimidated as a result of people listening in on scanners.

"It is not against the law to own or listen-in to emergency service channels but it is illegal to act on, or use, the information given.

"We would encourage people to come forward to report crime. Just yesterday, as a result of information from the public, a 15- year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy from the Durrington area were arrested for burglary and have been bailed pending further inquiries."

Police also confirmed their new TETRA radio communication system, due to be in operation by July, would make public emergency service scanners obsolete.

To report anti-social behaviour, call police on 01903 221430.