Knife Crime Falls 47% in Targeted Sussex Areas as New Action Begins in Brighton
Knife crime has fallen by 47% in targeted areas of Sussex over the past six months, and police have now launched further action in two areas of Brighton, one in Eastbourne and one in Crawley, according to Sussex Police.
The new programme is backed by £600,000 from the Home Office’s Knife Crime Concentration Fund. It will pay for more enforcement and patrols, prevention work with young people and improvements to the local environment in the areas most affected.
Figures are as reported by Sussex News and V2 Radio from Sussex Police. The 47% compares the past six months with the average monthly figure in the same areas over the previous 12 months.
What the figures mean
Sussex Police said knife crime in the targeted locations fell by 47% over the past six months, measured against the average monthly figure across those areas during the previous 12 months.
The force also reported a 42.7% reduction in the cost of knife crime over the same period, again measured against the previous 12-month monthly average.
The figures cover the targeted locations only. They are not a countywide total for Sussex.
What is happening in Brighton
The measures will vary from area to area and could include extra patrols, CCTV cameras, Live Facial Recognition deployments and work with partner organisations. In Brighton, police said the plans also include:
Kat Bradshaw-Denton, Operations Manager for Resolve Security, said the additional marshals will be able to engage with more vulnerable people, provide reassurance and step in earlier when problems arise.
What Sussex Police said
“Knife crime continues to have a devastating impact on victims, those closest to them and the wider community.”
“Through our analysis, we have a better understanding of the underlying causes of knife crime in specific areas of Brighton, Eastbourne and Crawley and we are adapting our response to address these.”
“The intense, problem-solving action, with the support of our partners, is tailored to address the issues, reduce criminality in the long term and make our streets safer.”
Chief Inspector Jim Loader, Sussex Police lead for serious violence and knife crime
What the Police and Crime Commissioner said
The funding followed a successful bid to the Knife Crime Concentration Fund by Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne, working with the force and local partners.
“The reduction in knife crime we’re already seeing shows that targeted action works but one young person carrying a knife is still one too many.”
“This funding gives us an important opportunity to go further, enabling the police to take targeted action in the areas where it can have the greatest impact, to keep people safe and prevent violence before it happens.”
Katy Bourne, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner
Elsewhere in Sussex
How to report a knife
Sussex Police is continuing its “One choice. Two futures. #KnivesCostLives” campaign, which asks young people to think about the consequences of carrying a knife. Anyone with information about people carrying knives can report it anonymously through Fearless, the youth service run by Crimestoppers.
Sources
More local crime and safety stories are under Crime, Crime and Courts and Brighton and Hove on ImJustBrighton.
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