Community copper Barry Jeffcoat has a message for his bosses now that he's retiring after 28 years service.

The 54-year-old Portslade beat officer says when it comes to policing, big is not always beautiful.

What worries him is that with policing now controlled from Brighton rather than Hove, Portslade will be seen as an outpost.

Already the number of community coppers in his area has been reduced from 12 to four and that must be against the wishes of the public.

The reorganisation of Brighton and Hove police into one division seems sensible and logical now that the two resorts are one city. But it must not be at the loss of the personal touch in patrolling.