Attack victims are often unable to help police with their enquiries – because they were drunk at the time of the incident, police officers have said.

Chief Inspector Simon Nelson, speaking on Twitter, said a number of investigations have been hampered recently.

He said: “Several incidents over the weekend when a victim was vulnerable to attack and unable to help with evidence due to being drunk.”

Speaking to The Argus about this Chief Inspector Nelson said he did not want to tell people not to drink – but they had to be careful.

He said the message was particularly important as there were many new university students, freshers, in the city.

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Chief Inspector Simon Nelson said: “Many people like a drink but no one likes to end up hurt or in trouble because of it.

“We do have some victims who can barely recollect anything, but believe something has happened.

“We will get a report from a victim saying they ‘feel different’ - that ‘something has happened’.

“Every night officers have to deal with those who have had too much to drink and their victims.

“It can range from incidents where drinkers are being too noisy and ruining the sleep of residents to those in which offenders become violent and leave their often innocent victims with serious and even fatal injuries.

“Because of the cost of dealing with the issue, alcohol-related crime affects us all, so it is particularly relevant for us to work closely with our partners on this campaign.”

He continued: “It is never anybody’s fault when they are attacked and we will investigate all attacks.”

He said attacks which were more common because of drink included “offences against the person and violent crime including sexual offences such as robbery and rape”.

He said: “Although there are very few in Brighton it is still too many. The impact such crimes have is immense.

“All it takes is someone to fall on the floor, hit their head and the results can be devastating.”

He added: “We are in the business of helping people and bringing bad people to justice… it is really frustrating when there is limited evidence.”