A 15-YEAR-OLD boy has been assaulted and told to empty his pockets during a park robbery.

The boy was assaulted in Preston Park, Brighton.

Officers arrested a 16-year-old on suspicion of robbery yesterday, during a force-wide day of action as part of Operation Safety.

The suspect and victim are understood to be known to each other.

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A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "Officers carried out an arrest of a suspect wanted for the robbery of in Preston Park, Brighton at 7pm on 20 February, where a 15-year-old boy was assaulted after being asked to empty his pockets.

"The suspect, a 16 year old boy, was arrested on suspicion of robbery and has been bailed pending further enquiries.

"The suspect and victim are understood to be known to each other."

Around 80 officers took part in Operation Safety that targetted knife crime, violence and wider criminality.

A total of 15 arrests were made for offences including weapon possession, weapon importation, robbery, burglary and drug offences.

Twenty-six weapons were seized and 39 searches were carried out.