Catching crooks in the web

Sussex Police are making imaginative use of the Internet under a pioneering new scheme.

The idea is to help catch crooks through the net by letting victims of crime report minor thefts from

wherever they happen to be at the time.

They'll be able to get in touch with the police through the Internet at Brighton police station, Gatwick Airport and at the village hall in Billingshurst.

Police and victims of crime will still need face-to-face contact for any serious incidents. But there are thousands of more minor crimes each year which could easily be reported electronically.

Putting details on the web is far easier for anyone who's computer literate than phoning the police when they're busy, or perhaps waiting in a long queue while harassed front office staff cope with other people.

It also brings benefits for the force, making more efficient use of police time.

Technology is moving so fast this form of communication may become the norm in future when reporting minor crime.

Safety first

Nothing will ever compensate Owena Thorpe for the loss of her husband Paul who died in a terrible road accident almost seven years ago.

But a High Court settlement of £185,000 in agreed damages for Mrs Thorpe and her three sons will help her financially .

No one has admitted liability for the accident, in which the van Mr Thorpe was travelling in went through a crash barrier on the Brighton by-pass and fell on to an embankment below.

But the tragic death should also have focussed minds on whether improvements can be made to the design of high-speed roads to minimise the chances of this sort of accident happening again.

Blood thirsty

Workers at Drusillas Zoo near

Alfriston have had a few experiences at feeding time.

But there's been nothing like that endured by volunteers offering their own blood to the latest exhibits, a

collection of leeches.

Although the experience was strange, it wasn't half as bad as many of the staff had feared beforehand.

Drusillas is now asking for more donors. What will it be like? Just like the leeches they'll have to suck it and see.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.