Sussex Police hope to more than double the usual number of new recruits, it was revealed today.

The news follows intense pressure on Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse to boost the number of bobbies on the beat and front-line officers.

Mr Whitehouse and the

Sussex Police Authority plan to recruit more than 200 new

officers in each of the next three years - a total of 615 by 2003.

The annual figure of 205 compares with the 87 recruited in 1999-2000 to bring the force's strength to just under 3,000.

The increased figure for 2000-2001 is based on the force's need to recruit an

estimated 160 officers to replace those retiring or leaving.

In addition, the authority has asked the Home Secretary for an extra 45 officers a year from the Government's recently launched Crime Fighting Fund, aimed at providing 5,000 more officers nationwide.

Mr Whitehouse faced a barrage of complaints about lack of officers during a meeting of the police authority in December.

Chairman Margaret Johnson said today: "We have listened carefully to what the people of Sussex, particularly those in the rural community, have said to use about the need for more police officers.

"We have listened to their concerns and made what we believe to be a realistic bid."

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