Sussex Police wants to make its neighbourhood officers more accountable to residents.

Officers in each district of the force will wear badges showing which town they work in and their cars will carry the names of that division.

Postcards will also be sent to every household in each area telling people who their local officers are.

It is all part of a campaign to "show residents that local policing is back in their town, city and village".

Senior officers believe the initiative will make officers more approachable and change the image of the force as a faceless institution.

Chief Constable Ken Jones said: "We have made a number of important changes over the past couple of years to introduce neighbourhood policing across Sussex.

"The time has come to explain those changes to the people we are here to serve.

"Most residents seldom have reason to call on our policing services.

"Even so, we want them to know that local officers are on hand if they are needed - 24 hours a day and 365 days a year - to help keep them feel safe."

Following a review of the force, neighbourhood policing teams now cover every part of the force area and individual police chiefs are accountable for delivering policing in their areas.

Mr Jones said community support officers were increasing police visibility and tackling low-level crime.

Local action teams, comprising police, other agencies and members of the community, were helping with the fight.

He said: "Local police stations have been revitalised, opening later and longer with police neighbourhood support officers on hand to provide an improved customer service.

"In addition, the Sussex Police web site has been updated with mini web sites for each district, enabling people to log on and look at how policing is being delivered where they live.

"Hastings and Rother division, which formally changed its name from Senlac last week, has been chosen for the launch of a new force campaign to show residents that local policing is back."