A top police officer has become a twitterer.

Chief Superintendent Robin Smith, Sussex Police's East Sussex divisional commander, has created his own account on Twitter, the social networking site.

He has embraced the new technology with the aim of helping to improve communication between the police and the community.

The divisional commander intends to use his site to keep the public informed and to put out witness appeals.

The new site will also give people the chance to post messages directly to him.

So far his Twitter page has attracted dozens of followers.

He said: "People are spending a large amount of time of these sites. They are a simple and instant way to communicate and we want to make use of that.

"Social networking sites present us with a modern way of reaching out to more local people and we hope that younger generations in particular will become more involved with policing in their areas.

"Twitter presents another channel for people to get in touch with us and tell us what matters to them."

The chief superintendent said that the force's presence on the network would not replace traditional methods of policing. Community meetings and neighbourhood surgeries will continue to be held.

But the force is determined to make use of new technology to communicate with the public.

Through its website, www.sussex.police.uk, people can sign up to receive messages about what is happening across the county. There is a mapping section where the public can check out crime levels in their area.

The website also features blogs by policy community support officers and information on emailing neighbourhood policing teams.

During next month's Labour Party Conference in Brighton people can keep up-to-date with the policing operation, codenamed Operation Otter, via the website.

Residents and businesses will also be able to receive immediate news alerts via computer and mobile phone by following Operation Otter on Twitter.

To receive "tweets" during the conference, which runs from September 27 until October 1, sign up to www.twitter.com/operation_otter.

To follow Sussex Police's news online visit www.sussex.police.uk/otter2009.

The force's Twitter feed can be found at www.twitter.com/chiefsuptsmith.