Eastbourne's top policeman has swamped his patch with officers and warned criminals: "I will put you in custody - this is personal."

Chief inspector Peter Mills has launched Operation Confront to crackdown on crime and antisocial behaviour.

More than 500 vehicles have been stopped as officers root out burglars, drug dealers, car criminals and street drinkers.

The Sussex police helicopter has been conducting sweeps to track criminals' cars, while dog units and traffic officers have been out in force.

More than 1,000 hours of patrols have taken place in Meads and Devonshire wards where just under a third of all Eastbourne's crime takes place.

Mr Mills has recently taken over from Chief Inspector Martin Stevens and is determined to send a strong message to criminals.

He said: "This is personal between me and the criminals. Some have openly challenged me on the street. My message is: I will get you in custody, however long it takes.

"People tell me they want more police on the streets and I am giving them that. They also tell me they want me to deal with anti-social behaviour and I am going to do that.

"The reaction of people who have been stopped and who have seen police walking has been tremendously positive.

"I want the people who choose to come to Eastbourne to commit crime and to be anti-social to realise that they will be targeted."

"I have a top five list of criminals who are causing me a problem and, one by one, I am going to lock them up.

"I have visited some of them and told them if they continue to steal cars in Eastbourne I will do my best to get sufficient evidence against them to put them before the courts."

Members of the public have been helping the operation by passing on information about drug-dealing.

Beggars and street drinkers loitering in banned areas have had their drinks poured away.

The operation has been reviewed each morning to see what intelligence has been gathered overnight. Officers are then allocated to certain locations or individuals.

They have been posted at fixed points as well as conducting sweeps, road checks and personal visits to criminals homes to let them know they are being tracked.

So far, seven people have been arrested for burglary and robbery.

Mr Mills said: "The pressure is on and there will only be two winners - the police and the vast majority of the people in Eastbourne."