THE new acting head of Sussex Police has appealed for public support during "difficult times" caused by the suspension of Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse.

Assistant Chief Constable Tony Lake said people in the 3,000-strong force had been shocked by the suspension but everyone was determined to go on delivering a service the public expected.

He said: "People are sad. There is a great deal of respect for Paul Whitehouse and we have received a great many telephone calls and offers of help from people around the country."

With last month's suspension of Deputy Chief Constable Mark Jordan the five-person top command team has been cut to three - Mr Lake and Assistant Chief Constables Maria Wallis and Nigel Yeo.

Commitments

Mr Lake said the extra workload might mean his team withdrawing temporarily from commitments with national police working bodies, but he was confident they will manage.

He said: "Despite the adverse publicity of recent difficult days, Sussex Police has a high reputation and there is a great deal going on across the force, day in and day out, of which we are very proud.

"I believe this will help sustain us through this uncertain period and ensure that we maintain the confidence, both of our own people and of the public of Sussex at large.

"Today I ask for the support of you all."

Mrs Wallis added: "We will do all we can to maintain our high standards of service and our staff are determined they will not drop."

Damaging

But Sussex Police Authority member Dr James Walsh, who voted against suspending the Chief Constable in the 9-8 vote, yesterday claimed the move could damage the force.

Mr Whitehouse was suspended for allegedly misleading the public over last year's police shooting of James Ashley in Hastings by claiming the flawed operation was executed properly and that his men acted correctly.

Dr Walsh said: "In my opinion, the allegations levelled did not warrant suspension at this time.

"It will severely undermine morale in the force and will damage the public's perception of it.

"The suspension will have far more affect than the suspension of Mark Jordan. The chief is the man at the very top of the organisation.

"It could lead to a reduction of efficiency. The way the public perceives the force might make officers feel undervalued, and that might mean they operate at 95 per cent and not 100 per cent."

The chief's suspension took effect Tuesday night when he was served notice by telephone, on his first day of his holiday in the Canary Islands.

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