youths targeted for attacks

Operation Target took place last Wednesday and Thursday in Lancing and was organised and run by local officers PC Steve Ford and Sergeant Ian Cooke.

The police had a high visibility presence in Lancing from 2pm to 10pm each day, visited all premises in the town with an off-licence and used an evidence gathering team, who had video cameras to gather further information about offences and the youths involved.

Sgt Cooke said six youths were arrested in total, four in connection with the recent attacks and two for other offences.

He added: "We were able to see the foreign students who were attacked and speak to them and told them what we were doing.

"We apologised on behalf of the people of Adur and told them to come back to Adur because it is a wonderful place."

Last week's operation was part of the ongoing Operation Columbus, which was set up to investigate racially-motivated attacks on foreign students two years ago.

Sgt Cooke said that the police acted on information and feedback from the public for Operation Target and said: "We went back to tell them what was happening.

"Also, at the Police/Community Consultative Group meeting last Thursday, they were all told what was going on."