I WRITE in response to some recent letters on the ‘state of Brighton’.

Firstly, I should say how proud I am to be the divisional police commander for the wonderful city of Brighton and Hove.

I have served with Sussex Police for 27 years across the county and in a number of detective and unformed roles, but this is the most important role I have had at a very challenging time for policing.

Undoubtedly the last 10 years have been difficult for Sussex Police and policing across the UK. The increasing complexity of digital evidence and cyber-enabled crime has added to the enormous demands placed on police with far greater vulnerability and complex mental health issues amongst both victims and offenders.  This is set against a well-documented reduction in officer numbers until last year as well as increases in crime across the UK.

It is therefore great to see more PCSOs come into the city (23 more than last year) and to see the new intakes of Probationer police officers coming into Brighton after their initial training at HQ. Last month we had 10 new (and very keen) officers of the very highest calibre arrive and I will get my share with every new intake over the next few years. It is something I feared I wouldn’t see in my service.

Our recent awards event highlighted some of the outstanding achievements of the teams in Brighton and Hove. The event was covered by The Argus and other local media, which was very welcome, but there is outstanding work going on 24/7, every single day of the year.

We can once again have named PCSOs in every ward and will be able to increase the numbers in our policing teams on Response, neighbourhood (Prevention) teams and very importantly in Investigations and Safeguarding Teams. These investigative teams are not so visible, but they do their very best every day to lock up serious criminals and bring them to justice.

I have officers in plain clothes and in uniform, on patrol every day disrupting serious criminality in the city.  As my officer numbers increase, we will be able to do a lot more with the help of our partners, businesses and communities.

My teams are working with law enforcement agencies and other partners to reduce the availability of drugs in the city, to clamp down on poorly-run licensed premises (as shown recently in Hove) and to make the streets safer. This needs everyone in the city to understand and acknowledge that all illegal drugs fuel criminality, exploitation and violent crime.  No drugs are “ethically-sourced” or come without victims.

I am working with the City Council and other partners to make Brighton and Hove a city which is hostile to illegal drugs and which is known for being a great place to live and visit rather than simply a "party city”.

Officers, staff and volunteers in Brighton are hard-working, professional and absolutely dedicated to protecting our communities and locking up those that need dealing with under the criminal law. They are, in fact, very similar to officers I’ve known throughout my career.

We do not always get things right, but each and every day I see brave and dedicated professionals risking their lives to rescue people from the sea, arrest dangerous criminals with weapons and prevent people from hurting themselves or coming to harm. My officers and PCSOs are assaulted, abused and insulted by some, but I passionately believe they are appreciated by the vast majority within our communities.

Please talk to your local PCSOs and Neighbourhood officers and ensure they are aware of your suspicions about individuals, or let them know when crime is happening in the area. I know they will respond professionally. Or you can report suspicions to Sussex Police online. We follow up every single report.

My final plea would be for law-abiding individuals and communities to support the work we do, be constructive in comments made and stand with us to help us make Brighton and Hove a city to be proud of and an even better and safer place to live, work, study or visit.

Nick May

Divisional Commander

Brighton and Hove