Police in Adur say crime has plummeted in the district during the past 12 months.

Under plans introduced by Sussex chief constable Ken Jones, the district now has its own police force and in April there was 15 per cent less crime and 17 per cent more criminals caught than in the same month last year. Car crime has halved since November.

District commander Chief Inspector Martin Walker said: "We have highly motivated and skilled officers who share my passion for catching criminals. Where people people decide to commit crime in Adur, we will arrest them and bring them to justice.

"There is a real air of excitement as we have the right number of officers with the determination to make this happen."