Crime is on the wane in East Sussex seaside towns, making them among the safest places in the country.

In the 12 months to April, total recorded crime in the East Downs area, which covers Eastbourne, Seaford, Hailsham, Newhaven, Peacehaven and Lewes, fell by 3.8 per cent.

In Eastbourne, detection of crimes relating to hard drugs rose by 150 per cent, after several intelligence-led operations. The force target was a ten per cent increase.

One of the most significant police operations in Eastbourne was codenamed County and involved more than 180 officers carrying out raids on houses where drugs were believed to be sold.

The operation last year resulted in 37 arrests and police believe it has had a significant effect on this year's figures.

More recently, Operation Resolve last month was aimed at reducing the number of burglaries in the Eastbourne and Hastings area.

A seven-day purge on people wanted in connection with burglaries resulted in 28 arrests in the Eastbourne and Wealden area and another 28 in the Senlac area, which covers Hastings, Bexhill and Rother.

Figures released by the Home Office today show that across Sussex there has been a total reduction in crime of 3.1 per cent, but detection of crimes is also down.

The decrease in arrests has been partly attributed to many officers opting to travel to London for more money rather than stay in Sussex.

Hugh Marriage, Home Office Crime Reduction Director for the South East, said during an official visit to Sussex today as the Home Office figures were released that the South-East was now the safest area in England and Wales.

He said: "The two top performing Crime Reduction Partnerships in South-East England are Horsham District, followed by Chichester.

"My assessment is that the police work in Sussex is improving and that Sussex maintains a good relationship with the local authorities and other partners," he added.

"Sussex Police have increased their numbers, technology has improved, and under Chief Constable Ken Jones partnership-working between police and the local authorities has made Sussex safer."

The figures show an improvement on last year's crime reduction performance of 1.3 per cent.

Only 30 or 40 people are committing all the crimes in Brighton and Hove, according to the Government crime czar.

And the police know all their names, according to Mr Marriage.

He said: "They keep an eye on them but what happens is they are arrested, put before the court and bailed.

"But that doesn't stop them committing crime.

"And if they go to prison they ultimately are released back into society.

"In Brighton, there are only about 30 or 40 people causing all the problems."

He said in small places, such as Steyning, the number causing problems could be as little as one and across the entire UK about 100,000 people commit half of all crimes.

But one Sussex Police Authority member said today the Brighton and Hove figures were "daft."

He said: "That might represent the core of habitual criminals but there are many more than that in Brighton and Hove's population of 250,000.

"And that doesn't include the commuting drug dealers who travel into the city each day from London."

Chief Superintendent Paul Curtis, head of the city police, said: "There are between 30 and 40 prolific offenders at any one time.

"The individuals may change on a regular basis as some are arrested but we actively target them all."

Chief Constable Ken Jones said after publication of today's statistics: "This is our second year of reductions in overall crime, making Sussex even safer.

The Chief Constable added: "Our new style of neighbourhood policing is bringing us closer to our local communities, and hard-hitting initiatives such as Operation Resolve, which achieved more than 170 arrests in a week, show our determination to deal with those who do try to commit crime."

Mark Dunn, chairman of the Sussex Police Authority, said of the latest figures: "These successive reductions are a testimony to the men and women of Sussex Police.

"I hope the public will take note of these figures and be reassured by them."