Shoppers and shopkeepers have hailed the arrival of a permanent police presence in the centre of Brighton.

As of yesterday, a uniformed police officer will be stationed at the Clock Tower 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The move is the brainchild of Chief Inspector Stuart Harrison, who swamped George Street in Hove with officers at Christmas and virtually wiped out crime.

He said: "This will be a point of refuge for anyone in trouble.

"Everyone will quickly get to know there will always be a police officer at the Clock Tower if they need one.

"This area is the epicentre of violent crime and I am convinced our presence will have a preventative effect.

"It will also help tackle people's fear of crime, a fear which exceeds the reality.

"Thousands of people walk around the city centre and enjoy a trouble-free time."

Jason Boden, manager of Ciro Citterio men's clothing store close to the Clock Tower, welcomed the initiative.

He said: "We get people sleeping rough in the doorways and shoplifting is a big problem.

"Hopefully, with a policeman right outside, this should diminish."

Another woman, who works in North Street and asked not to be named, said: "I think it is brilliant and I am sure everyone in this area will welcome it.

"There are a lot of drunks and druggies in the streets and wandering into shops and it has got worse in recent years."

One elderly shopper, Mary Jacobs, said: "It's wonderful and it makes me feel safer.

"And the policemen are such good-looking chaps in their smart uniforms. It'll brighten the place up."

Mr Harrison said the fixed-point officer would only leave the post to attend emergencies.

"If he or she makes an arrest then another officer will take the prisoner and he or she will go back to the Clock Tower post," he said.

"Our job is making people safe and making them feel safe.

"Every other city in the world has fixed-point officers and it is right and proper this city should have them."

He said other sites in the city would have fixed-point officers during trouble times and when crime patterns had been identified.