Patrols to stop drinkers at station

Sussex Police is planning to link with the British Transport Police to focus on the area after complaints about drinkers congregating there.

Inspector Oliver Fisher, of the Arun neighbourhood policing team based at the town’s police station, said his officers were aware of the situation.

“Sergeant Neil Harvey is dealing with this matter. He is liaising with the British Transport Police regarding a joint operation there in the next few weeks,” he said.

He was responding to a request for action from district councillor Francis Oppler.

He said: “There have been Eastern European drinkers there and now English drinkers.

“That little area is becoming very rundown. On the benches and the red brick square, we have men and women drinking and there’s the smell of urine.

“It’s an awful situation for people coming out of the station. A lot of schoolchildren come that way through the forecourt.”