A WOMAN has been arrested during a police investigation into the mistreatment of residents at a number of care homes.

Sussex Police is investigating claims into safeguarding concerns at nine homes operated by Sussex Health Care (SHC).

It concerns 43 care home residents, 12 of whom have since died.

West Sussex County Council suspended new placements to eight homes run by the company in August.

Two Horsham sites are: The Laurels in Guildford Road and Orchard Lodge in Dorking Road.

The council has also revealed the names of four more homes in Horsham and one each in East Grinstead, Crawley and Billingshurst which are all the subject of a safeguarding investigation undertaken by the county council, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Sussex Police.

Sussex Police announced today a woman from West Sussex has been arrested on suspicion of neglect under the Criminal Justice and Courts Act and fraud in connection with the investigation into Sussex Health Care.

She remains in custody at this afternoon.