FIGURES released yesterday revealed the number of offences recorded in Sussex rose by almost six per cent over the past

12 months. Crime reporter

PHIL MILLS examines why the news has led to more calls for extra investment.

MORE police and extra resources were demanded today in the wake of new

figures showing a big rise in crime in

Sussex.

The local branch of the Police Federation believes the service is hurtling towards the same crisis the NHS is suffering from.

Officers will be meeting Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse and county MPs in the next two months warning them "it will end in tears" unless something is done.

Government statistics showed 134,894 offences recorded in Sussex during the year up to the end of September 1999, a 5.8 per cent increase on the previous 12 months.

This works out at 8,999 offences per 100,000 of the county's population, lower than the average for England and Wales, 9,984 offences, but higher than the average for non-metropolitan forces, 8,456.

Sussex was ranked 25th out of all the 43 forces.

Both neighbouring Kent and Hampshire fared better, seeing respective drops in crime of 4.6 per cent and 4.5 per cent.

Sussex had 5,000 more crimes than Kent and Hampshire, and 2,000 more offences of violence.

It had 911 robberies, compared to Hampshire's 658, and Kent's 780, and 4,000 more thefts and handling crimes than its neighbours.

It also had 3,000 more cases of fraud and 1,000 more vehicle crimes.

Sussex had roughly the same number of burglaries, sex offences and criminal damage, and about 500 fewer drug offences.

Sussex Police have gained a reputation for scrupulous reporting of all crimes, including minor garden fence vandalism and domestic assaults, whereas some others are not thought to be so

exact.

Home Office inspectors will be examining Sussex's reporting methods in March and they may recommend other forces apply the same precise practice, which could put the county lower down the crime league.

But Graham Alexander, of the Sussex police federation, says the general

rise in crime is the main issue, not reporting procedures.

He said: "Crime has been creeping up and up every year and I am afraid the police service has not been keeping up in terms of numbers of officers and resources.

"In this regard, we

are just a bit behind the health service, in terms of lack of investment, and

the NHS is beyond crisis point.

"If we are not careful we will follow suit.

"Little by little, we are being whittled down and one day we will wake up and say, 'Good Lord, what have we been doing over the past ten years?'

"I was an inspector in Seaford for four years and I was shocked when I returned there recently.

"It looked dirty and neglected and there were yobs hanging around.

"The police station looked deserted. I find that beyond belief. It will all end in tears unless we get more officers and more resources."

The force and the Sussex Police Federation are applying for an extra 200 officers each year for three years, twice the normal intake.

But some police authority members, like the federation, do not believe this is enough to match the crime rise.

Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse said there is no evidence that forces can prevent and solve more crimes simply by employing more offices.

In fact, the more officers recruited, the more officers is taken from the front line to train them.

Mr Whitehouse has for the past few years concentrated efforts on introducing information technology and more high-tech equipment.

A force spokesman said: "Applying for more

officers now is an recognition we need to get

the number of officers in line with requirements.

"Bear in mind, of course, that many of these new recruits will merely be replacing those who have left or retired."

For the first time, the Home Office published area-by-area statistics for April to September last year.

Brighton, with the largest population and

numbers of visitors, not surprisingly came top

of the crime league in

Sussex.

There were 1,700 offences of violence, or 10.8 per 1,000 population, 78 sex crimes (0.8 per 1,000), 142 robberies (0.9), 916 burglaries (5.9), 967 car thefts (6.3) and 1,802 thefts from cars (10.4).

in East Downs, which covers Eastbourne, there were 1,233 violent offence per 1,000 people (5.3 per cent), 68 sex crimes (0.3),

62 robberies (0.3), 749

burglaries (3.2), 456 car thefts (1.9) and 1248 thefts from cars (5.3).

In Hove and Shoreham there were 794 offences

of violence (5.5), 41 sex crimes (0.3), 46 robberies (0.4), 572 burglaries (4.7), 387 car thefts (3.2) and 642 thefts from cars (5.3).

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