Police Pedal Power

PC Ian Cheesman and Sergeant Ian Cooke were in south Lancing taking part in a blitz day when a call came in that a man was struggling to detain three people who had crashed a van into his vehicle in Valley Road, Sompting.

Despite being the other side of the A27 and about three miles away, the two police officers on bikes pedalled and puffed their way north to arrest the three people.

The culprits had smashed a van into a car and run off, but a householder caught them and, with a little help from a passer-by, managed to hang on to them until the long arm of the law arrived.

The three were taken to Worthing police station to be questioned.

Adur police inspector Paul Amoo said: "This was excellent policing by my officers. They were miles away and PC Cheesman, who is stationed at Shoreham, doesn't know the area that well, but managed to cycle all the way to catch these offenders. This is what good, high-visibility policing is all about."

The blitz day, where a certain area is flooded with officers, a traffic warden and Adur Watch, was held last Tuesday in Lancing village and Churchill ward.

A dozen officers on foot and bikes were joined by British Transport Police, who travelled on trains from Fishersgate to Lancing.

The officers visited pubs, shops and businesses while the transport police reported five people for railway offences and inspectors doubled their normal takings.

Adur Watch officers removed nine abandoned and untaxed vehicles on the day and nine more were removed last week. The blitz was led by beat officer PC Mark Reed.