Chief Constable Ken Jones has been in the job for just a fortnight and has already joined street patrols twice.

It is a breath of fresh air to those in Sussex Police who crave a return to grass-roots policing, getting more officers away from desks and out on to the streets.

Police in some divisions have seen a dramatic cut in crime since they focused on the "broken window" philosophy - concentrating on tackling so-called low-level street crime in the belief it ultimately reduces all types of crime.

Over Christmas, central areas of Hove saw some categories of crimes wiped out as officers swamped the streets.

Other divisions have recorded similar successes and, overall, the force's performance in crime fighting is showing a steady improvement.

Mr Jones, 49, believes one of the keys to preventing and detecting crime lies in further developing intelligence and neighbourhood policing.

He said: "If we get that right, the rest will follow.

"This isn't rocket science. If we know where offenders live and have the right intelligence, it follows that beat managers, supported by other specialists, should be able to make their lives as insecure as the people they prey on."

Beat officers, for many years undervalued, have begun to feel rejuvenated.

One said: "It's about time. There haven't been enough of us and we keep getting taken from our beats to cover elsewhere."

Mr Jones said: "Beat officers are the bedrock on which policing is built.

"The service, in its pursuit of better performance, has unwittingly reduced their impact.

"I want to change that by rebuilding local police teams where all specialists, including beat officers, are of equal importance and work together as teams.

"I have been on patrol twice and have been greatly encouraged by the enthusiasm my ideas have received. Watch this space.

"In time, we will be more visible, accessible and familiar to the people of Sussex.

"I want us to represent excellence in this area."

Mr Jones sees invigorating local policing as a way of rebuilding public confidence in the force.

The fatal shooting by police of James Ashley in Hastings and the bungled investigation into the murder of Jay Abatan in Brighton have seriously dented its reputation.

The dents will take time to knock out but Mr Jones is confident he can succeed.

He said: "No words of mine can hope to lessen the pain that the family of James Ashley feels.

"We have rebuilt our procedures where weakness was found. Recent reform work has called for exceptional leadership, which we have in large measure.

"But our deeds ought to at least reassure people we have learnt and moved on. Give us a chance to show we have changed."

Mr Jones said officers spent too much time filling in forms and he intends to cut as much red tape as possible.

He said: "Paperwork increases in direct proportion to the growing volume of legislation and central Government directives.

"I will be working with other chiefs, partners and the Government to ensure this unsustainable load is contained and then reduced.

"This will require changes in attitude and investment in police information technology.

"Locally, I will challenge the need for all the paperwork and make sure our processes are as efficient as possible."

Mr Jones's appointment last month came at the end of a good week. Three days earlier he was at Buckingham Palace receiving his Queen's Police Medal for his work planning the police response to the Millennium celebrations.

His police career began in 1971, when he joined South Yorkshire Police in what he considers his home town of Sheffield, although he was born in Wales.

He left grammar school at 16 with no academic qualifications and then trained for three years as an engineer before joining the police.

After three years as a uniform constable, he moved to CID and was promoted to sergeant in 1980.

From 1982 to 1985 he was seconded to Sheffield University, where he achieved a BA in urban studies.

For two years to 1988 he was posted in Hong Kong, where he was a team leader in a major corruption investigation.

His return to Yorkshire saw the lowest point in his career. Disaster struck while he was on duty at Hillsborough football ground in 1989, when many fans were killed in a crush in the stands.

Promoted to inspector the same year, he took the next year out to gain a masters degree in business administration at Sheffield University.

After climbing the promotion ladder to chief inspector in 1991 and superintendent in 1994, he went to the University of California to study private policing.

He returned as chief superintendent and, in 1997, became Assistant Chief Constable with Avon and Somerset Police, with special responsibility for CID.

He was promoted to Deputy Chief Constable last February.

Married with a teenage daughter, Mr Jones has earned three Chief Constable's commendations during his career.

He has ambitious plans for Sussex and his message to the people of the county includes a plea for understanding.

He says: "Give us the benefit of the doubt. Let us show you how good we are and how good we can be."