A beat officer from one of Brighton's toughest areas is being sent on a three-month trip to New Zealand.

Taxpayers will foot the bill for Sergeant Tony Lumb, his wife and their young children to go to Auckland, where he will research crime trends.

He will be joined for three weeks in the city by civilian officer Paul Stewart.

Sussex Police suggested the trip and will provide £3,500 towards the cost.

The Government-funded regeneration project based in east Brighton, eb4u, has agreed to chip in an extra £3,000.

Sgt Lumb is a popular officer credited with helping to cut street crime in the eb4u zone, which includes Whitehawk and Moulsecoomb, by a fifth.

Police and eb4u said the trip would be a valuable source of information which could be applied in Brighton.

Not everyone in the east Brighton area is convinced, however.

Hamish Mackenzie, who has lived in Moulsecoomb for more than 30 years, said: "Why do they need to go to New Zealand to learn about policing initiatives?

"Why not go to Manchester? It's ridiculous. You don't get much sheep-rustling in Whitehawk."

New Zealand is seen as an international trailblazer in the field of restorative justice, in which crime victims and offenders are brought together to discuss how to repair the harm caused.

This can lead to the offender making reparation either to the victim or the community, for example by repairing property, cleaning premises or removing graffiti.

Inspector Steve Curry, responsible for the east division of Brighton and Hove, said: "The decision for Tony to go to New Zealand was taken at the highest level by the head of personnel, Chief Superintendent Andy Bliss, in conjunction with the head of Brighton and Hove police, Chief Superintendent Paul Curtis.

"Tony is a great ambassador for Sussex Police and has developed a good understanding of crime reduction and addressing antisocial behaviour.

"He's in demand for national conferences and has addressed a number of them."

Sgt Lumb will also concentrate his research on domestic violence.

Mr Curry said: "Each one of these is a potential homicide.

It's a very, very, very important issue.

"When you talk about the expenditure of £3,500, we think it's good value."

Mr Curry said Sussex Police agreed to send Sgt Lumb's family on the trip as part of force policy.

He said: "It's widely acknowledged and encouraged that when employees go abroad for three months, six months or even two years, their families are entitled to go with them.

"There's a need to balance someone's work life with their home life."

John Mitchell, the eb4u community safety team leader, said he believed the investment would be of genuine benefit.

He said: "He will observe New Zealand policing practices and look at good practice which can be applied locally.

"At the same time he will show what we've done in east Brighton to see if there are any lessons they can learn from us.

"We wouldn't go to the Bronx because east Brighton is not comparable to the Bronx. New Zealand is a more suitable placement.

"It is an international example of good practice with restorative justice.

"The trip is being funded by Sussex Police with a small contribution by eb4u.

"It will be a detailed programme and evaluation."

Mr Mitchell believes the money is a good investment. He said: "For the amount it's costing it represents really good value for money.

"Training courses can cost £200 to £300 in Britain."