Reported crime plunged by up to 20 per cent during a week-long blitz on criminals, say senior police chiefs.

More than 160 arrests were made for a broad sweep of offences, including shoplifting and serious assault, as part of Operation Knuckle.

Reported offences during the week the operation ran fell by between 15 and 20 per cent, which officers suggested was a result of them taking persistent offenders off the streets.

The operation, co-ordinated from Eastbourne's Grove Road police station, followed weeks of information gathering by a small team of officers.

An average of 50 officers have been involved in swoops in Eastbourne, Hailsham, Newhaven, Lewes, Seaford and surrounding areas for the last ten days.

One aim of the operation was to clear the backlog of outstanding warrants and to follow up DNA matches from previous crimes.

Sergeant Steve Tullett said: "We feel even at this early stage that it has proved a success."

In the weeks leading up to the operation, letters were posted to suspects asking them to contact police before they contacted them.

Inspector Tim Piloni of Hailsham police said: "Data which is currently being assessed suggests that overall reported crime across the division went down by between 15 and 20 per cent during the past week.

"We cannot make the direct link yet, but many people would say that if you take persistent offenders off the streets you are going to see a dramatic reduction in crime."