Three arrested after raid

THREE men were arrested after robbers armed with a 12in knife and a hammer threatened staff at a Peacehaven petrol station and the Telscombe Cliffs post office on Monday.

Raiders stole cash and mobile phone cards at Star Fuels, in South Coast Road, Peacehaven, at 4.30am and attempted to rob the Telscombe Cliffs Post Office in South Coast Road at 4.55pm.

The would-be post office robber ran off in the direction of Telscombe Cliffs Way after an alarm was set off by staff. Nothing was stolen and no staff were injured.

A man from Peacehaven and two from Newhaven, all aged in their 20's, were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the raids and a further robbery at Star Fuels on February 11.

Seahaven Division Inspector Mark Huff said: 'This is an example of effective intelligence-led policing which has resulted in the arrest of three men in connection with serious crimes.'

These latest raids came hot on the heels of an attempt by crooks to cut through a wall to the Meridian Centre Post Office with an angle grinder earlier this month and the armed robbery of the Peacehaven Nat West Bank in January.

Police have come under criticism from Peacehaven Town Council leader Tony Howard, who has called for a crack-down on crime and condemned the lack of continuity caused by officers being transferred after a short stay on their Peacehaven and Telscombe beat.

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Former Seahaven Division Inspector Ron Preddy, who told councillors he was in for the 'long haul', left after only 15 months in November to take up a new job with the Sussex Police Professional Standards Department in Lewes. He was replaced by Insp Huff.

Cllr Howard called for more officers and foot patrols to prevent crime. He said: 'Peacehaven residents want to know when we are going to get our full compliment of police officers and are they going to stay long enough to learn who is responsible for the crime, and so the criminals can learn that the police know who they are. All the people of this town want is for the police to do the job they are being paid for.'

Police are still seeking witnesses who may have seen anyone behaving suspiciously in the area of the Star Garage or Telscombe Cliffs post office. Readers can call police on 0845 6070999, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.