PEOPLE in Brighton are twice as likely to be a

victim of violence than in any other part of Sussex, show figures out today.

For the first time, the Home Office has published area-by-area statistics and Brighton comes top of the Sussex crime league in every category.

More statistics, to be published in March, are expected to show Brighton with the lowest detection rate in Sussex.

From April to September last year there were 1,900 violent crimes in the town and 11 people per 1,000 fell victim.

This compares to 5.3 in Eastbourne, 6.2 in East Grinstead, 4.5 in Worthing, 6.5 in Hove and Shoreham, 7.7 in Hastings, 3.9 in Haywards Heath, and 5.8 in Chichester.

Nationally, the average is 5.8.

Brighton also had by far the largest number of robberies, 142 compared to its nearest rival, Hastings, with 86 and there were 916 homes burgled, with Hastings coming a close second with nearly 889.

Almost 1,000 vehicles were stolen, almost three a day

on average and four times

the number in Haywards Heath. There were 1,800 thefts from vehicles, almost 200

more than its nearest rival Hastings. Sussex Police stressed because of Brighton's large population, criminals visit the town to commit offences.

Overall in Sussex there were 135,000 crimes, up more than 7,000 or almost six per cent over the previous period. This compares to a drop of 4.5 per cent in Hampshire and 4.6 per cent in Kent.

Deputy Chief Constable Maria Wallis said even with the increase, Sussex remained a low-crime area "with a good quality of life for most residents".

She said Sussex has a reputation for recording all crime "with scrupulous fairness" and it is actively encouraging

people to report incidents.

This year, she said, the force has set crime reduction targets and force efforts at cracking crime are already paying

dividends - burglaries are down eight per cent.

She said it was no surprise Brighton had the highest crime figures because of its population and large number of

visitors.

Margaret Johnson, chairman of the Sussex Police Authority, said progress was being made but there is much more work to be done.

She said: "What people must keep in mind is that Sussex remains a safe place to live.

"Reducing crime is not a job for the police alone. They have to work in partnership with many other community agencies in order for us to be

successful."

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