Cuts to policing in Littlehampton imminent

Response officers based in the town are being switched to Bognor from April 1, and the police station will no longer be open to the public at weekends.

The neighbourhood policing team is not affected by the shake-up.

The moves have been criticised by Labour councillor Mike Northeast, who, as the then mayor, also spoke out 11 years ago when a similar decision was taken to transfer response officers out of town to Durrington.

They later returned to Littlehampton, but are now being relocated to Bognor in a reorganisation of policing in Arun district.

“I can’t believe that 11 years later I am having to voice the same concerns,” said Mr Northeast.

“If the response officers are going to be based in Bognor, it would be utter nonsense to suggest there will be no effect on response times.”

Chief Insp Derrick, of Sussex Police, has said the police station changes would not result in a lower level of service.

“For example, officers do not respond to 999 calls from police stations - they are out on patrol across Sussex - and arrested people are already taken to specialised custody centres, not to local stations.”

* For the full story, see this week’s Littlehampton Gazette, on sale now.