Police believe small gangs of prolific criminals from Brighton are responsible for a big increase in crime in the Lewes area.

Divisional performance figures for April 2000 to February this year show total crime in Lewes, including burglary, violence, drug offences and criminal damage, was 16 per cent higher than the same period in 1999/2000.

Crime in every category went up except theft of vehicles, which was 13 per cent down.

In Lewes, reported domestic burglaries increased by nine per cent, theft from vehicles went up by 32 per cent, violence rose by 13 per cent, drug offences increased by 34 per cent and criminal damage went up by seven per cent.

The Lewes and Seahaven Police Community Consultative Group heard how total crime in the Newhaven and Seaford areas had stayed at about the same level.

Inspector Neil Moscrop, of Lewes police, said there had been an increase in offences such as credit card fraud and theft of mobile phones in the area but these crimes were not being targeted with extra police resources.

He said: "A lot of work in the first three quarters of the year was undone by a little team that moved into the area and accounted for a substantial amount of burglaries. They have now been caught and we would hope the trend would be reversed in the next figures.

"Theft from vehicles was also very much under control for three quarters of the year and then we suffered tremendously in this area. We found it was rarely people from around here who do it. The people that are caught come from other areas, most notably Brighton. You might have a car that goes on a crime spree. When it happens on one night it is very difficult to make an impact."

In Seahaven, police cut burglaries by 24 per cent, theft of vehicles decreased by 26 per cent and criminal damage went down by eight per cent. However, violent crime increased by 26 per cent and drug offences shot up by 48 per cent.

Mr Moscrop said 18 vehicles were broken into in one night in December. Members of the group said people had to stop leaving valuables in their cars.

Inspector Ron Preddy, from Seahaven police, said the 26 per cent increase in violent crime in the area included offences from a "slap in the face" to murder.

Seaford councillor Les Whittle said: "Violent crime has gone up by 26 per cent and that is unacceptable to me."