An extra team of police officers has been assigned to help out neighbourhood policing teams.
The Local Support Team (LST) comprises a sergeant and six officers to help front-line officers across Eastbourne.
Inspector Alan Costello said: "The team operates primarily in uniform, enhancing police visibility and providing greater reassurance.
"Their flexibility means they can be rapidly deployed to respond to the latest intelligence and crime trends.
"LST officers are trained in a range of skills that could see them searching woodland for a missing person, doing house-to-house inquiries on a murder investigation or breaking down a door during a drugs raid."
Two further LSTs will shortly be introduced in Wealden and Lewes districts.
Chief Superintendent Paul Pearce, East Downs divisional commander, said: "The creation of LSTs gives us the ability to pool resources across the county when needed without impacting significantly on the 24-hour service we provide neighbourhoods."
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