Criminals beware! It's Operation Quench

Backed by a mobile CCTV van, Rother park rangers' van and British Transport Police van, Inspector Simon Nelson and representatives of the Bexhill Neighbourhood Policing Team officers have posed for a photocall.

With them were Chief Inspector Steve Hale and colleagues from British Transport Police, Rother parks officer Ian Rushforth and park range Zoe Wickes, Anti-Social Behaviour Officer Bob Perry, Youth Development Services outreach workers and Community Support Officers.

The picture will provide the impact for Observer-sponsored newsbill-style posters warning potential trouble-makers not to consider Bexhill an easy touch.

Police in Bexhill have been successful in securing 30,000 of additional local police funding for the summer evenings.

It will enable two dedicated police officers to patrol the town

Often they will have the use of a CCTV van. But the majority of their work will be on foot or police mountain bike.

They will be working closely with British Transport Police colleagues, Rother park rangers and coastal control officer, locally-funded Youth Development Services outreach workers and colleagues from the Bexhill neighbourhood policing team.

Announcing the launch of the scheme, Inspector Nelson said: "These will be in addition to our other close partners in Rother District Council and the Chamber of Commerce.

"The Bexhill Observer will also continue to play a valuable part by voicing community concerns and communicating our results.

"The emphasis will be on crime prevention and dealing with the main troublemakers, allowing the diversion of other young people towards lawful and rewarding activities.

"This activity will complement the existing Bar Watch and Operation Columbus (attacks on foreign students) initiatives which will only make Bexhill and even more attractive place to live or visit."

Police say:

*Over the last year there have been dramatic decreases in Bexhill burglaries and vehicle crimes

*Although Bexhill suffers fewer assaults than most similar-sized towns, there has been an increase in violent crime and tactics are required to address this

*Two thirds of street assaults in Bexhill occur within Central Ward, including the seafront, park and railway property

*A large proportion of attacks are committed by young people - often against members of their own age group - a small group of key offenders enlisting the support of the peer group majority

*Young people in Bexhill have "ready access" to alcohol and drink is an aggravating factor in a majority of assaults

Inspector Nelson said: "Operation Quench requires the support and efforts of every member of the community and we all need to play our part.

"I will be looking to off-licenses to demonstrate their vigilance and effective management, and will be testing this.

"Parents are encouraged to discuss these issues with their children, and not to assume where they are spending their evenings. Our partnerships are getting stronger and it is rewarding to see everybody moving in the same direction.

"Although the main focus for this operation is in the town, we will carefully monitor any displacement to the outlying areas and respond accordingly.

"Bexhill is a fine place to live and together we can only make it better."

Rother district commander, Chief Inspector Rob Carden, said: "Rother district is a safe place to live but we cannot afford to be complacent. The additional funding and resources for this part of Sussex will help us to work with our partners in making a real difference."