I can understand PC Barry Jeffcoat's views on contemporary policing (February 27). Clearly, Sussex Police are very different to when he joined 28 years ago.

However, I am looking forward to when Hove and Brighton divisions join forces in April to police the city.

Criminals are no respecters of geographical boundaries and often people committing crime in Brighton are doing the same in Hove and efforts to catch them are being duplicated.

I am keen to combine the best of Hove and the best of Brighton where, over the past two years, the results speak for themselves - burglary down by 38 per cent and car crime down by 22 per cent.

By its very nature, policing is changing constantly as new technologies are developed or we need to respond to different types of crimes. It is important we deliver the best possible service to the public.

To supplement the work community beat officers perform, we will be setting up neighbourhood policing teams who can give beat officers additional support as and when they need it.

I wish PC Jeffcoat good luck in his retirement and I assure all Hove and Brighton residents, come the amalgamation in April, they will continue to receive a professional level of policing tailored to their local area.

-Superintendent Peter Coll, Brighton Police