Police blunder sends locals porn

7:50pm Thursday 7th August 2008

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A police leaflet asking people to help clean up their neighbourhood accidentally directed them to a porn website.

Sussex Police put the flyer through the doors of hundreds of homes in Mid Sussex to tell them about the launch of an operation to tackle "crime and grime" in the area.

Locals were advised to visit the force website to get more details on how they could do their bit.

But a blunder by the designers meant the Operation Beat Sweep form carried the address of the wrong website.

Instead of www.sussex.police.uk, the leaflet directed residents to www.sussexpolice.co.uk - a rogue site not linked in any way to the force website.

The brochure, which was printed in conjunction with Mid Sussex District Council, tells residents that they can get tips on protecting their property, setting up neighbourhood watch groups and avoiding bogus callers.

But instead they were directed to a site advertising pornography, policemen strippers, gay movies and escort jobs.

The unofficial website, which was bought by an unknown group three years ago, has been known to the force for years but frustrated officers have been unable to find a way to close it down