Eagle-eyed Andy Snow caught a drug dealer in action on his mobile phone but cannot find a policeman willing to investigate.

The 50-year-old watched in disbelief as a dealer brazenly handed over a packet from his car for money as police patrols passed by.

He thought Sussex Police would welcome his help when it came to tackling the drugs problem in the county but, despite calling the force three times, emailing and going to a police station to try to hand over information in person, the boat skipper still has not had a chance to speak to an officer.

Mr Snow said he was angry that the police's communications system had made it almost impossible for community-minded citizens to give their help.

He said: "It's disgraceful. I have been on the force website and there is information about their Rat On A Rat campaign and other initiatives asking for the public to help, yet when you try to give information you can't."

Police reform campaigners said his experience was another example of how officers were struggling to serve the public properly because of Government targets and increasing amounts of paperwork. Yesterday at their annual conference in Blackpool the Police Federation called on the Government to address the situation.

Mr Snow, from Portsmouth, witnessed the drug deal at 12.30pm on Friday after spotting a youth acting strangely outside a café in Belmont Street, Bognor.

Mr Snow said: "It looked like he was either on drugs or preparing to mug someone."

The father of one took photos with his phone as a black Mercedes pulled up. He said the youth went to the car, handed over three £10 notes and had something placed in his palm. Mr Snow took pictures of the car as it drove off.

He immediately rang Sussex Police to tip them off but was put through to a call centre where a recorded message told him all operators were busy. He tried phoning again but the same thing happened.

Mr Snow tried phoning a third time and asked to be put through to Bognor police station. He was told that was not possible and was transferred to the recorded message once more.

Frustrated, he went to the police station and was told an officer would phone him.

Later he also emailed Sussex Police. Yesterday, he had still not heard anything.

Johnno Hills quit his job as a detective in Brighton in March in protest at increased paperwork, reliance on police community siupport officers and target-driven working, which he felt was preventing officers from properly serving the public.

Mr Hills said: "One of the basic things the public expects is for officers to contact them when they say they will. But because officers are under pressure to meet their targets it is the sort of thing that doesn't get done."

Alan Snelling, manager of the Sussex Police contact centre, said he had been unable to find any record of Mr Snow's calls or email. He said he would be making contact with Mr Snow personally.

He said: "We go to extreme lengths to make sure we take calls but from time to time we do miss some. If that has happened in this case then we are sorry."

  • More than 1,500 people, including ten MPs, have signed Johnno Hills' petition calling for police reforms. To add your name go to www.realpolicing.co.uk.

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