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16th April 2026 Dear Residents, Please find below the latest Sussex Alerts from Mid Sussex Police Operation Downsway
 A number of deployments have taken place across Sussex which include , Mid Sussex and Crawley.
Over the coming months residents can expect to see an increased police presence on the roads of the district as we continue to both enforce and educate drivers around the ‘fatal five’ driving offences; excess speed, not wearing a seatbelt, driving distractions i.e.: using your mobile or a hand-held device, drink and drug driving, and careless and inconsiderate driving.
The aim of the operation is to help in:
-Reducing the number of people who are killed or seriously injured on the roads of East Sussex
-Reducing the number of reported incidents of anti-social driving
-Increasing public confidence in local policing through increased visibility and patrols
-Targeting those individuals who are prepared to drive on the roads in an anti-social or irresponsible manner.
Working together our Roads Policing Teams, the Casualty Reduction Team, and alongside partners including Community Speed Watch groups, officers will provide a high visibility presence across our road network to make sure law-abiding road users including drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists can do so with confidence and in safety.
The campaign will include regular speed checks and will target anti-social driving and riding and is in addition to checks and activities all year round.
We continue to encourage residents to alert us to road safety issues that are impacting their communities, and report incidents to us at the time online or by calling 101. Safer Driving, It only takes a split second for everything to change when driving.
Using your phone while driving puts everyone at risk. Not only that - you could also receive six penalty points and a £200 fine.
You must not use your phone when:
Stopped at traffic lights.
Queuing in traffic.
Supervising a learner driver.
Driving a car that turns off the engine when you stop moving.
Holding and using a device that's offline or in flight mode when driving your car.
You can use your phone when:
You’re safely parked.
You need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it’s unsafe or impractical to stop.
You're making a contactless payment in a vehicle that is not moving, for example at a drive-through restaurant.
You're using the device to park your vehicle remotely.
Keep your eyes on the road, not your screen. Three men sentenced for grievous assault on Haywards Heath boy. Three men have been sentenced for their roles in a grievous assault on a boy who was knocked off his bicycle by a car. The boy was knocked through a garden fence and street sign and was then further assaulted including being stabbed as he lay injured on the ground in Haywards Heath. The incident left the victim, a boy in his teens, with life-changing injuries. Jack Ancell, 24, drove a Vauxhall Corsa at the boy, while Charlie Clark, 24, stabbed him. Aiden Barber, 22, and Ancell also assaulted the boy on the ground before fleeing when challenged by the public. Police launched an extensive investigation to trace the Vauxhall Corsa driver and passengers, and the three men were identified and arrested in the days following the assault. They were charged with causing grievous bodily harm and with possession with a bladed article in public and admitted the offences in court. At Lewes Crown Court on 13 April, Ancell, Clark and Barber were sentenced. The court was told how the incident happened at about 5.40pm on 28 July last year at Sydney Road in Haywards Heath. Full details here Three men sentenced for grievous assault on Haywards Heath boy | Sussex Police Find Out More About Your Local Policing Team
Want to know who’s keeping your community safe? Visit our website to:
• Meet your local neighbourhood policing team
• Check out upcoming events
• Learn about our local priorities
• Access advice, news, and resources to help you stay safe
You can find the 'Your area' page on our website here - https://orlo.uk/k6ESa
Want to know who’s keeping your community safe? Visit our website to:
Home Safety – Op Secure Few simple steps to help keep your homes and property secure:
Check your CCTV / doorbell cameras – Make sure they’re working, positioned correctly, and have up to date footage.
Secure valuables – Keep high value items out of sight and consider property marking.
Hide car keys – Avoid leaving them in hallways or near letterboxes.
Lock up – Double check windows, doors and garden gates before bed or heading out.
Report anything suspicious – Your information could help prevent further crime.
Thank you to everyone who continues to report suspicious activity—your information really 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 have a hearing or speech impairment, or other forms of communication difficulties. Those with textphone can text 18001 101, or BSL users can use Sign Video to provide a Video Relay Service (here: https://signvideo.co.uk/), to report crime through a live online interpreter, who will contact the police on your behalf, when you do not require an urgent response. In an emergency when life is threatened or there is immediate danger, please use the textphone service 18000 or text us on 999. BSL users can call 999 BSL (here: https://999bsl.co.uk/) to use a British Sign Language interpreter. For more information on textphone and Relay UK, including help setting up the Relay APP please visit: https://www.relayuk.bt.com/how-to-use-relay-uk/contact-999-using-relay-uk.html | 
