The number of traffic police on the streets of Sussex has dropped by almost ten per cent as more officers are diverted to catch drug dealers, latest figures reveal.

The nine per cent fall was almost double the national average of five per cent.

According to Home Office statistics, there are now 17 fewer dedicated traffic officers than two years ago. The total now stands at 174.

In December, we revealed officers from the old traffic unit had been diverted to a special team specifically aimed at targeting drug dealers coming by road and rail, leading to a drop in numbers.

The special strike team is based at police headquarters in Lewes and uses advanced surveillance technology to keep criminals off the roads and disrupt criminal activity.

At the time, police spokesman Phil Woolf said traffic officers already had the skills to stop and deal with drivers so they were best to form the team.

But some insiders were unhappy with the depletion of traffic officers, with one arguing they were already involved with targeting criminals on the road.

The figures were released amid mounting concern the Home Office has shifted police priority away from the roads to areas such as street robbery and burglary.

The Police Superintendents' Association has urged Home Secretary David Blunkett to pay more attention to rising road deaths.

Road campaigners, led by RAC Foundation, have also urged ministers to reverse the fall in traffic police.

But Home Office minister Bob Ainsworth has defended the reduction. He denied it would hit road safety.

Nationally, the number of traffic police has fallen from 6,791 two years ago to 6,446.