A DETECTIVE says victims of crime are not getting the attention they need because the force cannot cope with demand.

In a YouTube video for the Police Federation, Sussex Police Detective Constable Simon Steele said they are in “crisis”.

He said colleagues are “struggling” with workloads and fears detectives are at risk of becoming a “dying breed”.

Hove and Portslade Labour MP Peter Kyle said the message shows the Conservative Government needs to “sit up and pay attention”.

But Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said there has also been a large increase in “complex” cases, such as historic sexual offences, which have been added to the workload.

Det Con Steele was speaking as part of the Detectives in Crisis campaign by the Police Federation.

He said: “The job at the moment is really difficult. We haven’t got the sufficient numbers working in the investigative arena.

“I spoke to my members recently, I did a survey last year, and they are telling me they are not providing the level of service that they want to victims of crime.

“One way I would describe the current role of detectives is to say they’re in crisis.

“Are victims of crime getting the attention they deserve? Definitely not.

“The role of the detective is absolutely vital. They play a crucial role in what we do in policing and it is time we started to invest in detectives and make sure we don’t become a dying breed.”

His comments concerned Hove MP Peter Kyle. He said: “When the Police Federation says they’re in ‘crisis’ and they admit victims of crime aren’t getting the attention they deserve, the government needs to sit up and pay attention.

“I have work shadowed Brighton and Hove police and experienced first-hand the hard work they do.

"I also hear Hove and Portslade residents telling me they were left unsatisfied by an investigation, so I call loudly and with every bit of urgency I can for politicians to listen and take action.”

But Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said investigation units have had "significant" investment in the past few years.

She said there is a nationwide shortage of detectives, along with a 27 per cent rise in the number of complex cases being investigated compared to 2017, leading to more funds for Brighton and Hove and Crawley.

Mrs Bourne said: “The Chief Constable acknowledged the hard work that the force has made to increase the numbers of accredited detectives in each of the Serious Investigation Units but recognised that there was more to do.

"I have been consulting with local residents to gauge their support for further increase in funding for Sussex Police and where they would like to see that money spent.

"I am still deliberating my final decision but, from discussions with the Chief Constable, further investment will be made to increase the resources of the investigation teams.”