Bobbies Back On The Beat

Extra officers will be based at the police stations in both towns, leading to more bobbies on the streets and faster responses to crimes, senior officers claim.

The move follows sustained, fierce criticism of the April 2000 shake-up of policing, when eight constables, a sergeant and an inspector were removed from this area to join a new trouble-shooting "response" team for the whole of the Highdown division, from Fontwell to Lancing.

Numerous complaints from the public and community leaders were made about lengthy delays in police answering emergency calls, and about the absence of police on the streets.

Privately, many of the officers left behind to cover this area were angry about the increased workload they had to take on because of the transfer of their colleagues.

New chief constable Ken Jones has demanded a return to community policing as part of a wholesale review of how the force operates, and the restoration of police strength in this area is being hailed by senior officers locally as a positive outcome of the changes.

Final details of the new police levels for Littlehampton, Arundel and the surrounding villages were being hammered out this week, but they are set to be introduced early next month.

It's likely that other police departments moved away from Littlehampton to the new divisional headquarters at Durrington will also return, including a CID section with detectives once again covering this patch.

Insp Dave Richards, sector commander for this area, outlined the reorganisation at a public question and answer session at the Littlehampton Town Council chamber last week.

Longer opening hours for police stations, and switching officers from desk duties to the streets were among the new chief's priorities, said Insp Richards.

"Hopefully, that will reassure you that things are changing," he added.

Littlehampton-based Sgt Mick Potter, who writes the Gazette's police column, said: "As far as policing in Littlehampton and Arundel is concerned, I feel very positive that the public will benefit from these changes.

"People will see more officers around, it will improve response times and the workload for existing officers here will be shared more evenly, giving them more time to spend on their community beats."

Littlehampton's police station, once threatened with being sold off, will now be refurbished.