Thursday 17th April 2025

Sussex Alerts - Eastbourne Police

Multi-agency Operation to tackle underaged selling and prohibited items.

Last week (10th April) a joint agency operation saw officers from the Sussex Police Licensing, join forces with Trading Standards and East Sussex Fire and Rescue; supported by Volunteer Police Cadets and a Trading Standards South East funded vape / tobacco dog, to undertake a ‘Test Purchase’ operation in the town, targeting under-age sales of vapes & alcohol.

With the support of Police Cadets, the operation saw test purchases being made at a number of premises across Eastbourne, resulting in 5 out of 12 failing the test by selling vape products to underage individuals.

Other results from the operation include:

Inspections which took place at three premises resulting in concealed illicit cigarettes being found with the help of the Trading Standards South East funded vape / tobacco dog.

A quantity of alcohol from various supermarkets was also seized during the day along with suspected stolen laundry products.

Details of all premises tested whether they passed or failed will be managed by Trading Standards who will investigate their licenses and take necessary remedial action, and any stores found to be holding counterfeit or suspect stolen items will be investigated by Police.

Residents can report any information they have about potential underage selling of restricted products to police online, or by reporting anonymously to CrimeStoppers.

Witness appeal after motorcycle collision in Eastbourne

Police are appealing for witnesses and information following a collision in Eastbourne.

Officers were called to Beachy Head Road, close to the Beachy Head West Car Park, in Eastbourne around 2.25pm on Saturday, April 12, the collision involved two motorcycles, a red Ducati and a black Honda.

The driver of the Ducati, a man in his 60s, suffered serious but not-life-threatening injuries, the driver of the Honda, a man in his 20s, also suffered serious but not-life-threatening injuries; both were taken to hospital.

Police are investigating and want anyone with information to come forward.

In particular, officers are keen to speak to any witnesses, as well as to obtain any CCTV or dashcam footage of the collision or the vehicles travelling in the area at the time.

If you can assist the investigation, contact police online or by calling 101 quoting reference of 820 of 12/04.

Free bike marking event

Join officers for a free bike marking event at the Sovereign Skate park along Eastbourne Promenade on Saturday 3rd May from 1500 to 1700, where you can get your get your property marked against theft.

Marking your items is a great way to not only deter thieves, but will also help Police or local authorities identify stolen property, and better your chances of being reunited with property should they be stolen.

Unable to make the date? You can buy bike marking stickers, or UV pens quite reasonably online, or speak to the retailer when purchasing such items for their advice on marking your new property.

Police are appealing for witnesses and information following a serious collision in Eastbourne

The collision, which happened on Sunday, April 13, at around 1.15pm, involved a car and a cyclist.

The car, a silver Vauxhall Astra, was leaving Morrisons on Hargreaves Road, and the cyclist was travelling Eastbound on Willingdon Drove, between the Marshall Roundabout and the Highfield Roundabout.

The cyclist, a 68-year-old man, sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital, the driver of the Vauxhall Astra, a 77-year-old local man, was not injured; police are investigating and would like for anyone with information to please come forward.

In particular, officers are keen to speak to any witnesses, as well as to obtain any CCTV or dashcam footage of the collision or the vehicles travelling in the area at the time.

If you can assist the investigation, contact police online or by calling 101 quoting reference 566 of 13/04.

Operation Downsway 2025 Survey

Help us to understand road safety issues that are impacting your community.

You can help us by filling in this survey and telling us what’s happening on the roads in your local area.

This information will help us build a picture of where we need to tackle road safety issues and how we monitor our summer road safety intensification, Operation Downsway.

This year, between April and September officers from teams across the force will take part in the dedicated operation, providing a highly visible and unmarked presence on the road network in Surrey and Sussex, engaging, educating, and taking enforcement action where necessary.

By engaging with road users, we aim to continue to reduce the number of collisions and deaths on our roads.

The survey will be live for the whole of April.

Help us to help you when you need us the most this Bank Holiday Weekend

As with many public holidays and long weekends, we often see an increase in reporting, and our phone lines can become exceptionally busy.

If you need to contact us over the Bank Holiday Weekend, and your call/report is not urgent, or could be answered online we ask that you consider contacting us via our website.

All reports made online are triaged in the same way as calls made to our 101 contact number, and reporting online could help free up the lines for those who need to speak to us, or are unable to use our website.

Visit: www.sussex.police.uk today.

Our website also hosts a library of crime prevention advice, support and more which can help save you time and help to keep phone lines free for those who desperately need us.

In an emergency always call 999.

Contact us

For non-emergency incidents or crime prevention advice, click  www.sussex.police.uk,  (If you report a crime online, we will assess it in the same way as a 101 call).  

Call 101 when you do not require an urgent response. In an emergency when life is threatened or there is immediate danger always call 999.  

Speak to us face-to-face at a police station or contact the local policing team at www.sussex.police.uk/area/your-area.  

If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired, you can contact us using TypeTalk on 18000 or by sending a text to 65999.