Home Secretary Jack Straw has praised the high-profile policing which has seen crime figures drop in Hove.

Mr Straw was at Downland Court, Portslade, during an election visit with Labour election candidate Ivor Caplin.

He praised a high-profile strategy which has been introduced by the command team at Hove police station. It is being hailed as a model for policing strategies for the rest of the country.

However, Superintendent Graham Cox and Chief Inspector Stuart Harrison have faced criticism for some of their methods from within Sussex Police.

The initiative involves getting more uniformed officers back on the street and has included a seafront patrol officer, a town centre patrol team of five officers on bikes and police horses.

Mr Straw said he had heard of the initiatives being put in place.

He said: "I have been given the crime statistics for Hove and Shoreham Division. They are below or on their target figures in all categories.

"If crime is reduced as a result of high-profile policing I can only praise that. What can be more high profile than police horses. If they successfully help to reduce crime, of course I support that."

Conservative election candidate Jenny Langston praised the Hove command team.

But she said she was against plans for a combined city police force.

Chief Constable of Sussex Police Paul Whitehouse has called for a report into a merger between Brighton and Hove divisions.

Coun Langston said: "They are addressing quality of life issues such as fear of crime, vandalism, graffiti and drunkenness.

"If a single citywide police force was introduced, the quality of policing in Hove could suffer.

"We would want to ensure the good work done here was applied to the rest of the city. I would not like to see policing in Hove and Portslade dictated from Brighton."

Ivor Caplin, Labour election candidate for Hove, is in favour of a combined force, adding: "But only on the firm understanding that Hove police station remains fully operational.

"I would not like to see its role reduced in any way whatsoever.

"The crime figures are coming down, so it is apparent that these policing methods are successful.

"We now need to make sure that other areas of the city can benefit from that type of policing."

Nigel Donovan, Liberal candidate for Hove, said: "I am calling for more money to get more bobbies back on the beat. I would also like to see more police stations opened throughout the community.

"Portslade's police station in St Andrew's Road closed down and there is only a police box there now.

"We need to have a permanent police presence in the districts as well as the city centres. There has been a big increase in attacks, vandalism and violence in recent years.

"The only way we can address that is by getting more officers out of cars and offices and back on to the beat."

Downland Court, where Mr Straw concluded yesterday's visit, has been seen in the past as a hotbed of crime including violence, drink and drug disorder and prostitution.

However, Mr Straw was told its image had changed thanks to a partnership between residents and local police. Tenants formed a residents' association to monitor problems and find ways of dealing with them.

There is now a thriving community spirit at Downland Court and a number of families who moved away because of the troubles there have moved back.

Resident Cally Reed said: "It has become a very nice place to live with a lot of social activities for the people who live here."

Mr Straw spoke to PC Mark Pinder, community beat officer for Portslade.

Tina Urquhart, chair of the residents' association told him: "We need 20 more bobbies like him around here. We can't sing his praises highly enough, the job he does is wonderful."

PC Pinder said: "With the residents' help the major problems here have been sorted out.

"Now we have time to deal with the quality of life issues like vandalism and graffiti. It has been an amazing change."

Earlier yesterday Jack Straw visited the Palace Pier when he was told by carer Mark James he was "a lousy Home Secretary".

Mr James, 64, of St John's Mount, Brighton said: "I am a member of the Labour Party. I voted Labour last time but will not this time.

"Jack Straw is a typical politician. He says nothing and gives nothing away. Yet there are problems in places like the estate where I live where crime is still rising."

Mr Straw and Kemp Town Labour candidate Des Turner generally received a warm reception.

The only heckle came from a Jack Russell terrier, which rushed in front of him, yapping.

Mr Straw said: "It looks friendly, so it must be a Labour dog."

Mr Straw was wearing his lucky rosette which he has sported at every election since 1983.

May 25, 2001