MY husband I had a short break in Brighton to celebrate a friend’s diamond wedding anniversary.

The entire week was full of shocking surprises.

Brighton is a crime city with no visible protection from the police.

Criminals seem to run the city without any attention from the police or the council.

It reminded us of a movie about Al Capone when he ran Chicago in the 1920s.

At least they had Elliot Ness to protect the public.

During a conversation with Brighton residents at our hotel they reported the city is in the hands of criminals.

They know a former senior police officer who told them the police have no control and the police and crime commissioner is useless and has no interest in Brighton.

Prostitution was openly offered when we were taking an evening walk after dinner.

Young people do not hide knives or weapons. Young women wearing electronic tags openly display them as a celebration of their status.

Our hire car was damaged and two other couples attending the anniversary celebration suffered crime having been “approached” for their wallets and mobile phones.

Drugs were openly offered on most street corners during the day and night.

Security staff were seen chasing people we believed were shoplifters on a daily basis.

I did ask a security guard at Top Shop how he coped.

He said thefts happen very often but added they do not approach the regular thieves anymore as the courts do nothing.

We did notice when filling up our hire car at a BP/Marks and Spencer fuel station in Kingsway, Hove, seven police cars and uniformed officers eating, laughing and drinking in the cafe.

Our anniversary friends did inform us the elderly and vulnerable are not protected in Brighton when defrauded.

They also have people in their meeting group who have suffered theft.

They say the police were not interested. That is disappointing as they are easy targets for conmen and conwomen.

I do know a major international manufacturing company based in Munich decided not to invest in Brighton after they researched crime and safety for their staff.

It will be a delight to return home to a safe city and not see the rapid demises of such a well-known city. Brighton is sadly lawless.

Dr Jennifer Schumacher, Munich