ACCREDITED marshals will help direct traffic during the London to Brighton Bike Ride for the first time this year with fewer police involved.

Community safety accredited marshals will be on patrol on Sunday to control traffic throughout the Sussex area of the event and to take names and addresses for any road traffic offences.

A joint policing operation in Surrey and Sussex is expected to see a more effective policing response with a more streamlined command structure and clearer communication.

Chief Superintendent Dave Miller, from Surrey Police, said: “This first joint policing operation builds on the success of our response to the flooding in Surrey last year.

“It sees Surrey and Sussex working as one, enhancing the service we provide, improving communication and reducing the number of commanders working on the day.”

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Betts, from Sussex Police, is leading on the tactical response for the operation.

He said: “The London to Brighton Bike Ride is a unique event and one that I have worked on for the past three years.

“In 2013 we worked to reduce the number of officers and staff on this operation, freeing up teams to focus their efforts on other local priorities.

“This year we have taken that work a step further.

“The number of officers and staff deployed on this operation has significantly reduced and community safety accredited marshals will work with policing teams to control the roads and keep traffic moving.”

More than 28,000 cyclists will take part in the ride this Father’s Day, riding 54 miles through London, Surrey and Sussex.