Sussex Police are to get 94 more officers as part of the Government's spending review, it was announced today.

With more recruits announced earlier this year, the total number of extra officers by 2002/3, not including the normal intake, will be 206.

The news was welcomed by Sussex police chiefs today but the announcement came with a firm demand from Home Office Minister Barbara Roche.

She said: "The Government and the public will expect to see results - reduction in crime, with more offenders being brought to justice.

"Crime will not be solved by increasing numbers alone. Improved technology, reform of the criminal justice system and increased partnership between agencies, together with an increase in front-line officers, is the key to successful crime reduction."

The 94 is Sussex's share of 4,000 more recruits nationwide and comes on top of 5,000 extra officers the Government has allowed forces to hire.

Local politicians and the Sussex Police Federation have been crying out for more officers and the additional re-cruits will appease many of them.

Sussex Police say they have no concerns about finding the extra employees - more than 100 people made inquiries about joining after the murder of Sarah Payne.

Assistant Chief Constable Tony Toynton said that with the normal intake of officers, replacing those leaving or retiring, the force would have 234 new constables by next April.

Barbara Roche said: "Forces have now been given an unexpected boost to their existing and already enhanced recruitment plans and will want to work hard to ensure that they use the extra ring-fenced resources to im-prove their crime-fighting capabilities."

Sussex Police last night said it was difficult to make comparisons between present and past numbers of officers in the force because of changes in the definitions of front-line, support staff and operational support staff.

A spokesman said: "The extra 94 will be front-line officers. This is good news for the force and the people of Sussex."