Latest police initiatives and operations

Operation Greenstripe is an initiative run by Sussex Police to highlight the importance of security marking property kept in outbuildings such as garages and sheds, and trades' vans.

Garden equipment, garden furniture and power tools are examples of items that can be marked by tamper-proof stickers which, once placed on a clean and dry surface, cannot be removed.  They're bright yellow in colour and act as a visible deterrent.  There's room on the sticker to write an identifiable number that's recognisable by you - we suggest maybe using your postcode or a significant year plus your initials, eg. AB12 3DE or 1983ELC.

Operation Greenstripe stickers are available at no cost from any Sussex Police station or from your local PCSO.

PCSOs are promoting Operation Greenstripe and providing security advice to residents.

It's important to be vigilant, if you see any suspicious persons or vehicles in your area please report to police promptly.  Outbuilding burglaries always rise during the spring and summer months, with gardening equipment being stolen.  Increased patrols are being undertaken during peak times when crimes are generally committed, but the public's assistance is required by Operation Greenstripe property marking and securing premises.

If you would like further information regarding home safety, visit the Sussex Police website or contact your local PCSO.

Operation Crackdown is a multi-agency partnership including you, Sussex residents.  The aim is to make our roads safer and our neighbourhoods a better place to live.

More information and a full list of partners is on the Operation Crackdown website.

We need your help to tackle problems in your part of Sussex by telling us about abandoned vehicles and anti-social driving you've seen, eg speeding, thoughtless driving/riding, under-age drivers/riders, drink or drug driving, tailgating, mobile phone use, vehicles in unsafe condition, untaxed cars and motorbikes...

If you spot any of the above:

• Pull over safely at the side of the road, or ask a passenger to write down details

• Vehicle make, model, colour and number will all help police enquiries

• Use house numbers, shop names, road names to pinpoint the incident's location or a potential abandoned vehicle

• Write a brief description of what you witnessed, while still fresh in your mind

• Visit: www.operationcrackdown.org or call 01243 64 22 22 to record your information, which will only take a few minutes

Your information will be analysed and appropriate action taken if necessary by Sussex Police.  Those identified can be tackled in a number of ways - by education, letters and home visits to give them a chance to consider their actions and what future actions they need to take.  More serious cases where lives are potentially put at risk, or those who fail to heed initial warnings are likely to face prosecution.

Remember!  Do not attempt to write anything while driving and always stop in a safe place prior to using a handheld mobile phone.

There have been more than10,000 reports and messages in the past year and as a result there have been vehicle seizures, prohibition notices issued for unsafe vehicles, road tax evaders caught and drink-drivers identified.

The summary below identifies some of the key causation factors which the police record regularly as contributing to road traffic crashes where people are seriously injured or killed.  The significant reporting of mobile phone use and drink driving should be taken as a warning to motorists that this database will allow their activities to be recorded.  Many of these offences, if prosecuted, will result in penalty points, disqualification and heavy fines.

A summary from summer 2007 of some of the activities being reported is:

• 63 cases of careless or dangerous driving

• 5 cases of drink driving

• 37 cases of mobile phones being used by drivers

• 5 road rage reports

• 36 excessive speed reports

• 7 cases of tailgating

The following is a typical response which accompanies a report:

"Thank you for this and at last we feel someone is listening to us when we ask for a more peaceful life."
"What a good idea this website is."
"The only thing I find that I do not want on, is the map that comes up under location, as most people will be able to tell you the location without a map."
"I think the site is great and easy to use."