Meet the two bobbies they have dubbed the "Starsky and Hutch" of Hove.

Thirty-three arrests in 30 days have given Matt Potter and Murray Barnett the title of top thief takers on the division.

Drug dealers, burglars, car criminals and shoplifters - they've all had their collars felt by the crime-fighting duo.

PCs Potter and Barnett work the Crime Car, a vehicle dedicated to patrolling hot-spots and stopping and searching usual suspects.

They have been given a simple remit as part of an American-style initiative launched last October.

Chief Inspector Stuart Harrison, second-in-command of the Hove-Shoreham division, brought the idea back from a visit to New York.

They have been taken off regular duties and given a free rein.

They don't work normal timetables and virtually do whatever duties they like. They begin their shifts when they know the villains are about and finish when the opposition goes to bed.

They have become so well known on the streets that suspects sometimes take to their heels as soon as the Crime Car turns into their road.

Not that running does the criminals any good. If the PCs don't catch up with them in their car or on foot, they'll be back the next day to shake them down.

PCs Potter and Barnett are not bogged down with paperwork.

As soon as their prisoners are brought in they hand over the processing to colleagues and off they go in their car again to bring in some more.

No other division in Sussex yet uses the system, but judging by its success it is only a matter of time before the idea spreads.

Mr Harrison is singing the PCs' praises.

He said: "They've turned into thief-takers par excellence. They are arresting machines and the finest crime-crackers it has ever been my pleasure to work with.

"They captured 33 criminals in the first month and their total now is well into three figures.

"They are two young bucks whose work has gone a long way to helping the division cut burglaries and car crime."

PC Barnett, 30, a former labourer who has been in the service seven years, said: "Instead of being defensive and reactive to crimes, waiting for them to happen, we are out there on the offensive, catching criminals and preventing crime. It really is a change from the norm."

PC Potter, 25, a graduate and five years into his first full-time job, said: "It is great to have the time and scope to do the job. There are lots of other pro-active officers but we are not tied down.

"I believe we are deterring crime as opposed to following criminals and clearing up behind them. We are disrupting the criminals' routines to the point that they are expecting to be stopped and searched whenever they see us."

The duo has been credited with helping put away five of the top ten burglars in Hove.

There are probably only 20 regular burglars in the entire area and taking out five puts a big dent in the number of break-ins.

The only downside to their job is the effect it has on their social life. PC Barnett is engaged and PC Potter doesn't have a girlfriend at the moment.

PC Barnett said: "This job can disrupt your social life but I am lucky, my fiance is very understanding."

As for the Starsky and Hutch label, PC Potter laughed: "It is nice to be recognised but we don't model ourselves on anyone.

"In any case, we are always in uniform when they were in casual clothes. And we don't look a bit like them."