Violent crime crackdown

POLICE are preparing to flood Worthing with officers as part of a major crackdown on violent crime.

Extra officers will be on patrol in problem areas during the day and night and anyone who puts a foot out of line will be arrested and brought before a district judge.

Sergeant Pete Darkin, in charge of the town centre policing team, told the Herald: "We want to send a message to people who go out in Worthing with the intention of causing trouble that it won't be tolerated."

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Operation Resolve III begins on September 8, and will run for six days and nights.

Additional officers will be drafted in so officers are free to make arrests early on in the evenings, pass the paper work over, and be back out policing the streets again quickly.

In the day, known offenders of violent crime will be targeted with back-up provided by CID. Officers will be in crime hotspots such as The Strand shops in Goring, Durrington railway station and Tesco in Durrington.

During the evenings, areas such as Teville Gate and Chapel Road will be the major focus, with officers on high visibility patrols.

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They will be supported by the dog unit, road policing department and specialist evidence gathering teams.

Just 18 months ago police in Worthing were facing a 20 per cent increase in reports of violent crime.

The town centre policing team has significantly reduced this type of offence and figures for this month show reports are down by 37 compared with last August.

But it is still a problem and officers run Operation

Fortress every weekend where police target problem hot spots.

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"Operation Resolve is not a case of going from nothing to something and then back to nothing again," said Sgt Darkin.

"It just beefs up resources. At the end of the week we will revert back to our normal policing patterns and Operation Fortress."

He added: "You're never going to extinguish any crime completely.

"We are trying to get it to a level that is sustainable and enables people to enjoy their evenings out in Worthing.

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"We know where the problems are and we are going to put people in those areas."

The operation involves the police joining forces with other organisations, including Worthing Taxi Association, Pub and Club Watch, licensing officers and Trading Standards.