A £1 million police centre where officers have been investigating the killing of Jane Longhurst has been officially opened.

The major incident suite at Sussex House police station in Hollingbury, Brighton, is the first of four.

One at Horsham police station is about to open, Littlehampton's is expected to be ready in October and work on Eastbourne's, a new building in Hammonds Drive, will start in the new year.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Dennis, project leader who also heads the Jane inquiry, said Sussex Police had a 100 per cent success rate in detecting murders in recent years and the suites would further improve efficiency and speed.

He said: "The first hour of a murder inquiry, the golden hour, is the most important for the recovery of evidence. Everything we need is here and ready to use at a moment's notice to maximise our efforts in that vital 60 minutes."

Previously, any available room at John Street police station in Brighton was used for major crime investigations.

But the new incident suite has everything police need: rooms for CCTV viewing, interviews, press conferences, exhibits, intelligence officers, computers, managers and the general inquiry teams.

Chief Constable Ken Jones said: "Major incident suites will ensure Sussex Police is best placed to deal effectively with all serious crime, to secure convictions and to ensure we embrace national policy in respect of major crime investigations.

"Our main aim is to solve murders and lock up the people responsible for them. The suites give us the opportunity to do this more efficiently."

Mr Jones said the facilities were essential to tackle what nowadays are often highly-complicated crimes.

Councillor David Rogers, chairman of the Sussex Police Authority, said the suite had already proved its worth. He said: "These suites will allow police to respond quickly to major crime and will reduce any potential for mistakes. Working from four permanent locations will also generate savings from reduced travelling and other costs."