I have been visited by DCI Cheesman of Sussex Police to apologise for the lack of police response to a 999 call following a homophobic attack in Brighton last week.

DCI Cheesman fell short of guaranteeing all 999 calls in the area would be met with an immediate police response but agreed to my proposal that a member of the Anti Victimisation Unit should be on duty out of office hours (particularly on Friday and Saturday nights) to attend to any victim of a violent attack and offer appropriate support, rather than just operate as a secondary service.

If DCI Cheesman fulfils his promise, positive steps are being made to address the serious policing issues in Brighton and Hove.

I look forward to hearing the plan has been initiated.

-Rob Dean, Blackhorse Road, Walthamstow, London E17