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Local News Hastings |
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⚽ Operation Hope - Keeping Our Communities Safe During the Football Research shows reports of domestic abuse can increase during major football tournaments, which is why we proactively work with partners throughout this period to raise awareness, safeguard those most at risk, and ensure support is available. We will be carrying out targeted activity, including safeguarding visits and close partnership working, to help prevent harm and protect vulnerable people. 💬 Can you see it? 💙 You are not alone. If you are experiencing domestic abuse, support is available and we are here to help. 📞 Call 101 (or 999 in an emergency)
Police Advice: Keeping Renovation Properties Secure Properties that are undergoing renovation and left unoccupied are at increased risk of burglary and theft. To help protect your property, we recommend the following: Avoid leaving high-value items such as tools, equipment, or materials on-site overnight. If they must remain, ensure they are securely stored out of sight. Visit the property daily, if possible, to confirm everything remains secure and to quickly identify any signs of tampering or damage. Ensure all doors and windows are locked and consider installing temporary alarms, CCTV, or motion-activated lighting to deter offenders. Simple steps like using timed lighting or keeping the exterior tidy can make the property appear occupied. If you notice unfamiliar individuals, vehicles, or any unusual behaviour around the property, please report it to police as soon as possible. Taking these precautions can significantly reduce the risk of your property becoming a target.
Protect Your Home Burglary can have a real impact on your wellbeing and sense of safety. While we can’t be on every street at all times, your vigilance and simple security steps can make a big difference in keeping you, your home, and your neighbours safe. Top 3 Tips to Stay Secure 🔐 Lock up and stay secure 👪 Make your home look lived‑in 🎁 Keep valuables out of sight We’re Here to Help, But We Need Your Eyes and Ears Too If you see or hear anything suspicious, no matter how small it may seem, unusual activity, unknown vehicles, someone trying door handles, please report it to us right away. A few minutes spent securing your home, and one quick call if something doesn’t feel right, can make all the difference.
Sheds / Garages / Outbuildings We urge all residents to keep their sheds, garages & outbuildings locked at all times, especially when not in use. They often contain valuable tools, bikes, or expensive equipment that are attractive targets for thieves. 👮♂️ Crime Prevention Tips: • Use robust security padlocks or deadlocks on doors, consider a surface mounted garage door lock. • Fit an alarm system, motion sensor lighting and/ or CCTV • Keep expensive items secured inside using lockable cabinets, ground anchors, or chains. • Consider trackers for high value machinery. • Avoid leaving tools or ladders outside - they can be used to gain access to your property. • Mark valuable items with your postcode using a UV pen or property marking system. DNA marking kits can be collected from Hastings or Battle Police stations free of charge. • Register valuable equipment at https://orlo.uk/wsg5o to help police return stolen items if recovered. Let’s work together to make our sheds, garages & outbuildings as difficult to access and unattractive to criminals as possible. See or hear anything suspicious, call 101, for crime in progress, call 999 immediately.
If you own a beach hut, please take a moment to review these simple steps to help keep your property secure: 🔒 Use strong, good‑quality locks 🚪 Make sure doors and frames are solid 🔩 Fit secure hinges 🛡️ Consider extra reinforcement 📦 Don’t leave valuables inside 🖊️ Security‑mark your property 🚨 Think about an alarm 🔦 Visit regularly
Top Tips to Stop Vehicle Break‑Ins As your local neighbourhood policing team, we want to help you keep your vehicle, and your belongings safe. Most vehicle break‑ins are opportunistic, and small changes can make a big difference. Here are our five top tips: 1. Always lock your vehicle Even if you’re parking on your driveway, outside your home, or only leaving the car for a moment, make sure all doors, windows and the boot are locked. Offenders will try door handles looking for an easy opportunity. 2. Remove valuables, or anything that looks valuable Never leave items such as wallets, handbags, laptops, phones, tools or shopping bags in you vehicle or on display. Even a coat or empty bag can make a criminal think there’s something worth stealing inside. 3. Keep keys safe and away from doors or windows Keyless entry vehicles are particularly vulnerable. Store keys well away from the front door and consider using a signal‑blocking pouch (Faraday pouch) to prevent relay theft. 4. Park smart Choose well‑lit, busy areas whenever possible. If you have a driveway, consider using outdoor lighting or CCTV as a deterrent. Criminals prefer dark, quiet spots where they won’t be seen. 5. Don’t leave your vehicle running unattended If you’re defrosting your car or popping back into the house, switch the engine off, take the keys with you and lock the vehicle. Many thefts happen while vehicles are left running, even for a few seconds. If you see anything suspicious, please report it to us straight away on 101.
Drink or Drug Driving? It’s NEVER worth it. ✅ Plan ahead, book a taxi or arrange a lift. Your choice. Your responsibility. Don’t risk it.
Stay Safe in the Water With warm weather expected, we are reminding anyone spending time near the coast to stay safe and know what to do if they get into difficulty in the water. This simple “float” technique has helped save lives in a range of incidents, from people slipping into canals to those caught in waves at the coast. If you find yourself struggling in the water: Important: Avoid entering water after drinking alcohol or taking drugs. Alcohol significantly increases the risk of accidents, cold water shock, and drowning. Knowing how to float is a vital, life-saving skill. Staying calm and using this method can make a critical difference in an emergency.
June Edition – Sussex Police Newsletter 🚨 We’ve been made aware of scam letters claiming recipients have won a “FIFA World Cup Lottery” prize - these are fraudulent. In two recent Sussex cases, individuals were told they’d won £900,000 and asked to pay a small “fee” before claiming it. Thankfully, both recognised the signs and did not lose any money. 👉 Please remember: 📖 Read our June newsletter for more advice and the latest scam information. Stay alert and help protect our community from fraud.
Neighbourhood Policing Our neighbourhood policing team continues to carry out regular daytime and evening patrols in areas where drug activity and anti-social behaviour (ASB) have been reported. During patrols last Friday in Wellington Square, officers identified activity of concern. Two men were searched under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, and drugs were recovered from one individual. As the man had no previous criminal history, the matter was dealt with by way of an out-of-court disposal. We will continue to maintain a visible presence in the area and take prompt and proportionate action to address crime and ASB, responding to concerns raised by the community.
Thank you to everyone who joined us at our community event in Silverhill. It was a valuable opportunity for our Neighbourhood Policing Team to meet with local residents and business staff, listen to any concerns, and provide reassurance about the work we are doing to keep the area safe. We were pleased to share practical advice on how you can help protect your home and vehicles, as well as guidance on how to recognise and deal with scam calls, texts, and emails. Engaging directly with the community helps us better understand local issues and work together to address them. We would also like to thank The Sara Lee Trust Charity Shop for kindly allowing us to be based outside their premises
House! 🎉 Who doesn’t love a good game of bingo? Our neighbourhood policing team certainly does! We had a fantastic time joining everyone at Ambition Links for an afternoon full of fun, laughter, and a bit of friendly competition. We must admit… we were on a bit of a lucky streak, shouting “House!” not once, but twice! 🏆 But the best part? We gave those attending the chance to choose and take the prizes so there were plenty of smiles all round. Ambition Links do amazing work, creating opportunities for people to live life to the fullest, no matter their ability, and it was a real pleasure for us to be part of the day. A big thank you to everyone at Ambition Links for the warm welcome and for letting us join in. We’re already looking forward to the next game!
Great day at The St Leonards Academy last week. Our Neighbourhood Policing Team had a fantastic time meeting students from Years 7–11, alongside Year 6 pupils from West St Leonards Primary Academy and Robsack Wood Primary Academy. It was a great opportunity to chat with a local officer, including our dedicated Neighbourhood Youth Officer, who was on hand to answer plenty of thoughtful questions. The highlight of the day (or as we’d say, the pièce de résistance!) had to be the visit from our Traffic Officer, complete with the police motorbike, which definitely turned a few heads! 🚓🏍️ We had a really positive day, with some brilliant questions from the students. They were keen to learn everything from how to join Sussex Police, the different roles available, what equipment we use, and what a typical day in policing looks like. Of course, no visit would be complete without a bit of hands-on fun, there were lots of smiles as students got the chance to try on some of our uniform too! 👮♂️ Thanks to everyone who joined us, you made it a great day, and we hope to see some of you in uniform in the future!
Wanted on Recall Arrest Made During Hastings Foot Patrols During foot patrols in Hastings over the weekend, our Neighbourhood Policing Team not only had the opportunity to chat with local residents, shoppers, business staff and members of the street community, but also to offer reassurance and answer questions. We took time to reinforce the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), ensuring it was being adhered to, and dealt with any instances of anti-social behaviour we came across. officers also identified a man wanted on recall to prison. He was quickly detained and arrested. A man 47, of Hastings, was wanted following a recall to prison for breaching his release conditions, including failing to attend appointments and displaying poor behaviour. He has now been returned to prison.
On Saturday 20th June, officers were called to a report of a fallen tree blocking the road on Rock Lane, Hastings. Following standard procedure, Highways were notified so the obstruction could be safely removed. In the meantime, officers remained on scene managing the situation and directing traffic along alternative routes. While dealing with the closure, Straight Up Trees Ltd arrived at the scene and found their route blocked. Rather than turning around, they kindly offered to assist and got to work clearing the obstruction themselves. Thanks to their efforts, the tree was removed and the road was reopened within 10 minutes! proving it’s always useful to have the right people in the right place at the right time. We’d like to thank Straight Up Trees Ltd for their help, it certainly made our day a little easier, and the public’s journeys a bit shorter.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to stop and speak with us last week at our Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) engagement event at Priory Meadow. From a policing perspective, these face-to-face conversations are invaluable in building trust, sharing safety advice, and understanding the concerns of our community. We were pleased to be joined by partner agencies, including ESCC, Interventions Alliance, and Refuge reinforcing our joint commitment to prevention, safeguarding, and supporting those affected. We had some really positive discussions, and we hope those who attended felt reassured by the guidance and support available. Finally, our thanks to Priory Meadow for hosting and supporting this important community engagement work.
Officers have continued high-visibility foot patrols throughout the week, across Hastings and the Old Town, engaging with local businesses and chatting with local residents to better understand any concerns or emerging issues within the community. This ongoing dialogue helps us to identify priorities, prevent crime, and address anti-social behaviour at an early stage. We remain committed to tackling crime and ASB, while providing reassurance that we are present, approachable, and listening. Patrols will continue into the weekend, with officers visible and accessible across the town during both daytime and evening periods to support and protect the community.
Neighbourhood Policing officers continued daily and evening patrols yesterday, speaking with residents, shoppers, and local businesses to understand any concerns and provide visible reassurance within the community. We adapt our patrols based on feedback by listening to concerns raised by residents, businesses, and visitors, and using this information to focus our presence where it is most needed. This may include increasing patrols in identified hotspots, targeting specific times when issues occur, or working alongside partner agencies to address ongoing concerns. This flexible approach ensures we are responding directly to community needs, helping to prevent crime, reduce anti-social behaviour, and provide reassurance where it matters most.
We always welcome a visit from one of our wellbeing dogs, like this beautiful ball of fluff, who definitely knows how to lift morale! For a brief time, we all paws our work to give Bella the attention she deserves. Even Sergeant Bracey couldn’t resist, although we think he may have been furced into it when our four-legged friend made himself comfortable on his lap! 🐾
⚜️ Dyb Dyb Dyb Great fun visiting the Cubs at St Luke’s Church in Silverhill! From a neighbourhood policing perspective, it was a fantastic opportunity to engage with young people aged 8–10 and talk about keeping safe, both online and when out and about in the community. We discussed not sharing personal information, being kind and respectful to others, and knowing to speak to a trusted adult if something doesn’t feel right. We also covered practical safety advice for when they are out with friends, helping them build confidence and awareness. The group took part in a missing person role play scenario, where they each had a chance to step into different roles, lots of great questions and really inquisitive minds! They also enjoyed trying on some of our uniforms, which is always a highlight. We hope they enjoyed our visit as much as we did, it was a pleasure to spend time with such an enthusiastic bunch.
Following reports from local residents expressing concerns about e-scooters being ridden in their area, neighbourhood policing officers have been carrying out targeted patrols in Hollington. During these patrols, we stopped two individuals, one riding a moped and the other an adapted e-bike. The adapted bike had no pedals, rendering it a motorcycle. Both vehicles were seized for no insurance. E-bikes: EAPCs can be used where normal bikes are allowed (not on pavements). If it doesn’t meet these rules, it’s treated as a moped or motorcycle.
We’ve increased patrols in the West Hill/Castle Hill Road areas following concerns raised by local residents about suspected drug activity. Officers have been carrying out regular checks during both daytime and evening hours to address these concerns. On this occasion, no offences or persons of interest were identified. However, we will continue our high-visibility patrols to provide reassurance and deter any potential crime. We remain committed to supporting our community and tackling any crime or anti-social behaviour.
🚓 Over the weekend, officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team conducted high-visibility foot patrols across St Leonards. As part of our commitment to supporting local businesses and keeping our communities safe, we visited shops and businesses in Norman Road, Western Road, London Road and Kings Road. These visits provided an opportunity to speak directly with business owners and staff, discuss any concerns they may have, and share information about the ongoing work being carried out by the Neighbourhood Policing Team. We also highlighted how we work alongside partner agencies to address local issues and improve the area for residents, visitors and businesses alike. High-visibility patrols will continue throughout the week, both during the day and in the evening, to provide reassurance, deter criminal activity and maintain a visible police presence within the community.
July marks the start of Operation Spotlight #Fatal5, a campaign focused on raising awareness of the five main factors that contribute to fatal and serious injury collisions on our roads.
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