A TOWN’S residents have told how they feel unsafe amid a crime spree following the closure of their police station.

The people of Peacehaven said they feel vulnerable in their own community after the police station closed in September last year.

Many of them cannot recall the last time they saw a police officer on patrol in the town.

Elizabeth Gibbons, 83, said: “I don’t feel as if I can go out on my own when it gets dark.

“There have been a lot of crimes committed recently and I have really noticed the lack of police presence.

“Maybe if there were more officers on duty it would deter the opportunists from committing crimes.”

Ms Gibbons added: “I used to see officers around but not anymore. It definitely makes me feel more vulnerable without a police station here.”

Following the closure - a result of government funding cuts to police - Peacehaven now shares a station which is based in Newhaven.

A string of crimes have been committed in the town in the past month. Most recently, the windows of the Meridian Centre were smashed in the early hours of Sunday morning.

In June, The Argus reported on 63-year-old man, Derek Bishop, who had his jaw broken after being taunted and assaulted by a group of teenagers.

Mr Bishop was walking home from a night out with his wife, Alison, when he was sworn at and mocked by a gang of boys aged around 18 in Ambleside Avenue.

He was then punched by one of the thugs, and needed to have metal plates put in to support his jaw. His wife was left thinking he was dead as the gang walked away laughing.

Burglars struck the Martlets shop in South Coast Road at the end of the month. Windows were smashed and jewellery was stolen.

The shop had to be closed for most of the day as staff had to clear up the damage.

June Burgess, a pensioner who has lived in Peacehaven for eight years, had plant pots stolen from her front garden last week.

She said: “It makes you feel vulnerable when things like this happen.

“Whoever stole my plant pots must have had transport and been working with other people.

“One was made of flint and was really heavy – you couldn’t do it on your own.”

Ms Burgess said she was upset to think something like this could happen in her neighbourhood.

She said: “You work hard to buy things you like and people come and just ruin it. It’s really frustrating.”

Residents said that they used to see community support officers walking around the town but since the closure of the town’s station it is rare to see even a PCSO on patrol.

Matt Webb, chairman of the Sussex Police Federation, said he was not surprised that crime levels had gone up in the town. He said: “From 2010 to 2016 Sussex has lost 550 officers.

“It is no surprise to me that crime levels have gone up recently – you get less with less, not more with less.”

There are 492 officers, 90 special police constables and 67 PCSOs based in the East Sussex division of Sussex Police.

Peacehaven Town Council said the criminals are creating chaos in the town.

A council spokeswoman said: “It is very disappointing yet again to find that residents in the town have caused damage to the much needed facilities and amenities.

“Peacehaven Town Council is working exceptionally hard to support residents behind the scenes.”

Sussex Police said in a statement that PCSOs now have increased skills and powers and are working with officers to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour.

The force also said there is a base at the town council in the Meridian Centre for officers. A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said: “We are determined to make policing services effective and efficient and have already implemented a resolution centre to give the public timely advice and support, ensured our investigators are equipped to investigate crimes that cause the greatest harm and prioritised our response to emergency calls for help.

“We work to keep people safe across Sussex, and whilst we have dedicated teams working within communities they do not work alone in achieving that.”

They could not comment on the amount of officers on duty at the time of the incident at the Meridian Centre on Sunday due to operational safety.

Anyone with information should call on 101 quoting serial 33 of 09/07.

COMMUNITY HUB NOW FOCUS OF TROUBLE

PEACEHAVEN’S Meridian Centre has long been something of a hub of the community.

But since the town’s police station closed last year it is now also a beacon for troublemaking youths to wreak havoc.

Shop owners and customers told how they feel intimidated by youngsters hanging around in large groups and called for more security in the area.

Some people said they avoided going to the centre before and after-school hours so they do not have to endure the presence of the troublemaking youngsters.

David Shoebridge, owner of Shoebridge Butchers, said it was beginning to affect on his business.

He said: “I have had the Peacehaven shop since 1995 and the problems have never been as bad as they are now.

“When the young people are in groups they don’t care what they do. They think they can get away with anything.

“We have had customers say that they won’t visit the centre during the busy times because of the kids making noise and intimidating them.

“I am starting to see a downturn in my business because of this.”

Mr Shoebridge said that if youths are lurking in the centre for too long, they are asked to move on by security.

The shopping centre employed a new security firm, AP Security, last week. It was unable to comment on how it operates. In December, vandals sabotaged a Christmas display which was put together by volunteers.

There were also reports of antisocial teenagers abusing Co-op staff, swearing and throwing ice creams.

It seems as though the centre is becoming a hub of trouble and people are growing extremely frustrated at a lack of order in the area. They are calling for a police presence to help restore peace.

John Duncan, owner of Peacehaven’s Coastal Cabs, said the centre was a dangerous environment for his employees.

He said: “I am worried for my girls that work here in my office. There has been a lack of security here for a while and when all the young people gather it makes it a bit awkward for them. Sometimes 20 or 30 of them gather at a time – the girls sometimes feel intimidated.”

The Meridian Centre is open to the public from 6am until 10pm but staff at Coastal Cabs work until 4am.

Mr Duncan, 62, added: “This year has been the worst I have ever seen it here. You get kids doing wheelies on their bikes inside – there is absolutely no control over them.

“They are at the worst in the evenings and after school times. There has to be more police or security in the area, definitely.”

He added: “I have four girls that work here, the youngest being 19 and another who is 21.

“We are forever seeing trouble in the Co-op, so they could get in here. I want more protection for the girls’ sake.”

For 83-year-old Olive Goodwin, who has lived in Peacehaven since 1960, nowhere is safe in the town she calls home.

She said: “Sometimes when I’m out, I see teenagers drinking and mucking about in the streets. It makes me feel unsafe even walking about the streets now.

“Years ago we didn’t even have to lock our doors, but it’s completely changed now.”

Ian Gordon, a retired police officer who worked in Surrey, said he was disappointed at the lack of officers in Peacehaven.

Mr Gordon, 56, said: “I think the lack of officers in the area is disgusting, but it’s not the officers’ fault.

“It’s the cuts being made to the force. There definitely has to be more of a presence around here. I’ve seen things happening at the Meridian Centre before, like kids abusing people and playing football indoors. There isn’t a quick enough response time because the station is closed down now.”

While the Meridian Centre appears to be the epicentre of disorder, residents are reporting crime across the town, even down on the beach. Laura West, of Cavell Avenue, recently reported men flashing at her friend. She said: “There has to be more police around to patrol down there. I don’t want the situation to get any worse.”