Rox '“ all police leave cancelled

Officers have been ordered to avoid holidays and rest days for the return of the music and arts event to the seafront on July 21 and 22.

Regular sergeants and constables based in Bognor will be joined on patrols by special constables and police community support officers from around the town.

Reinforcements are being drafted in as well from surrounding areas to boost the numbers available from the police station. They include specialists such as the dog handling unit.

It means that the much-anticipated occasion will have the biggest police presence probably ever seen in the town for a community occasion.

The action has been taken by senior police officers to ensure that Rox's return to its original home of the promenade is a peaceful success.

Ensuring that all available police officers will be on hand to patrol the area means they will have around a 35-strong presence at Rox throughout its first day from 1pm to 11pm.

The strength will be scaled down for the second day, from 1pm to 9pm, to around 24, to take account of its earlier shutdown.

Inspector John Merrick, of Bognor police station, said: 'It is unusual to have this level of policing in Bognor but we have to put in the extra resources because of public safety. I believe our response is proportionate to the event and the numbers we are looking at.'

Insp Merrick said it was unknown how many spectators would go along to Rox 2007 with its two stages of local bands and other fringe events. The last of the seafront Rox, back in 2001, attracted an estimated turnout of around 60,000.

But those which have since taken place at alternative venues at Fontwell Park Racecourse and, lately, at Bognor Regis Town FC's ground, had seen smaller attendances. Some 4,500 turned up at the football ground last year.

The most recent events, though, required a paid-for ticket. This year's Rox also differs from those previously on the seafront in forming part of a bigger weekend '“ the week-long SunFest organised by Bognor Regis Town Council.

'Because Rox this year is a free event again, and not ticketed, it is impossible to know how popular it will be,' stated Insp Merrick.

He explained the police, through Chief Inspector Brian Bracher, had played a full role in the safety and advisory group for Rox set up since the start of the year.

This brought together the organisers, Arun District Council licensing officers and other emergency services.