Drunks, drug addicts and aggressive beggars will be cleared from the streets of Hove under a new police crackdown.

Officers are following up complaints from residents and traders of an increase in drug dealing, prostitutes' cards in phone kiosks, street drinking and nuisance begging.

Phase one of the operation will involve police and outreach workers from the Crime Reduction Initiative (CRI) street service team mounting joint patrols in Western Road, Palmeira Square, Church Road, George Street and Blatchington Road.

The aim will be to identify individuals and ensure they are referred to relevant agencies using either the outreach worker or the CRI referral leaflet.

The team is employed by the Government's Homelessness Directorate to reduce the number of rough sleepers.

They are working with police to offer longer-term solutions by housing those involved in begging and other criminal activity and by referring individuals into drug and alcohol treatment services.

Phase two of Operation Dodger will involve high-visibility and plain-clothes police patrols on bikes and in cars.

Officers will target aggressive begging, drug use and drug dealing and will be instructed to arrest offenders not just move them on.