Eastern European prisoners are being advised to come to Sussex after their release.

A criminal arriving from Poland in a stolen car told Sussex Police officers he had come to the county after seeing posters advertising Sussex in prison.

The revelation has come as the force forms a special squad to deal with organ- ised crime among migrant workers.

Sussex Police has launched Operation Accent to target organised crime groups within the Eastern European community in Bognor and Littlehampton. As part of that work a case came to light of an interview given by a convicted Eastern European criminal arrested in Sussex.

Inspector Nick Bowman, of the force’s Arun district, said: “He had just been released from a Polish prison.

“He let the officers know the reason he came here was there was literature out there that said ‘Come to Bognor Regis, start a new life’. “That is what we are up against.”

Police believe they are dealing with some gangs specialising in stealing. Members commit burglaries or steal satellite navigation systems, then sell the swag on through established fencing channels.

Other members are believed to provide an “enforcement capability” to stop peo- ple stepping out of line. Police are convinced human trafficking is also taking place among the migrant agricultural workers in Bognor and Littlehampton.

Insp Bowman said: “Some of these individuals who are criminals in their home countries come over here and develop organised crime groups where they are making a huge amount of money.

“When they get what they think is sufficient they’ll go back to their own coun- try and build a big house.

“They have considered themselves untouchable, but that is not the case.” In the Arun district, 18% of crimes – nearly one in five – are committed by Eastern Europeans, according to Sussex Police figures.

Insp Bowman said: “We want to give an honest and open view of where we think the problems are.

“We don’t want people to think all the problems are being caused by Eastern Europeans.”

A team including detectives, uniformed officers and police staff has been created to run the operation.

They are aiming to encourage migrant workers to report crimes to the police, overcoming the mistrust of police that is widespread in their home countries.

Officers are hoping to foster better links with the Eastern European community, for example through church congregations.

Insp Bowman said: “We the police haven’t yet managed to reach out and engage with the settled community, the hard-working, decent, legitimate community.”