No To Crime-busters

The crime-busting team of one full-time and three part-time wardens is set to be launched by Arun later this year in a 70,000 scheme.

But Littlehampton Town Council members said the money would be better spent on genuine police officers and described Arun's proposals as "tinkering at the edges".

They turned down Arun's invitation to contribute 2,000 a year for two years to the scheme, and instead called for a meeting with new Sussex chief constable Ken Jones to discuss policing in the town.

Town councillor Mike Northeast told last week's property and personnel sub-committee meeting there was already a tried and tested method of controlling crime and disorder and that was bobbies on the beat.

The 70,000, he felt, would provide more than two extra police officers for Littlehampton and he would prefer to put 2,000 into the pot for that.

"We keep on saying we need the visual presence of the police here, but it doesn't seem to get through. My view is that we have a new chief constable now and we should get him here to explain the problems we have in Littlehampton."

Mr Northeast said Arun had shown a reluctance to use anti-social behaviour orders against persistent, known offenders in the town, even now that the Government had relaxed the criteria for making the orders.

Councillor Alan Butcher agreed on the need for high visibility policing. "It's vitally important that it is made clear to the new chief constable the sort of policing that is seen to be effective.

"This proposal of Arun's is just tinkering at the edges."

The full story can be found in the Gazette, February 28.