Too much paperwork is one of the main reasons we don't see as many bobbies on the beat as we want in Sussex.

The bureaucracy could become even worse if new changes come into effect regarding the way in which officers carry out stop-and-search work.

It could mean community coppers no longer bothering to stop and chat to little old women on the street because they might have to fill in forms afterwards.

If that happened, good community contacts would be lost, not to mention the opportunities of gaining useful pieces of information about what's going on in a neighbourhood.

One recommendation in a new Home Office review is that officers should fill in a report every time they stop anyone, including occasions where people volunteer information.

The review is taking place because of understandable concerns in some areas that certain groups, such as ethnic minorities, are being unfairly picked on.

These people and groups can use the methods they do now to complain if they feel that is the case and that is far better than imposing a new layer of bureaucracy on the police.