Hello

Media headlines can sometimes give the impression that crime is rising inexorably as newspapers and TV channels increasingly adopt an emotional approach as they vie for the reader’s attention. This sensationalist philosophy was first described by journalist Eric Pooley in a 1989 New Yorker magazine when he said: “the thoughtful report is buried because sensational stories must launch the broadcast.”

We see daily examples of this and, while some are based on actual incidents and verified crime reports, we also see click bait myths and hysteria promoted across social media. When I meet concerned local people, I try to separate fiction from fact to reassure them they are relatively safe in Sussex.

Last week, the latest figures from the Crime Survey for England and Wales were published. It may surprise some readers to hear that crime against households and individuals has “generally decreased over the past ten years” - although fraud has risen substantially.

Last year the number of homicides decreased by 7%; offences involving knives or sharp instruments fell by 8% as did offences involving firearms. Perhaps most surprisingly there was a 4% reduction in shoplifting. There was a 9% reduction in robbery of personal property offences but improvements in recording practices for robbery of business property led to a 10% rise.

This shows that headline reported figures do not always match local experience and reality  and we have seen this for ourselves in Sussex with previously under-reported retail crime

Encouraging reductions in crime in Sussex

Last week in Sussex, I held my quarterly performance meeting with the Chief Constable and members of her senior team. This regular scrutiny session gives me a very detailed analysis of all aspects of policing from public contact, police response and investigation through to public satisfaction and confidence levels. There were some encouraging improvements in crime reduction in many areas revealed in the latest performance update.

For the year to June 2026 there has been a 4% reduction in the total number of crimes recorded by Sussex Police and a 7% increase in the number of successful outcomes. Over the same period, there was a 43% increase in the number of robberies recorded but a welcome 194% increase in successful outcomes. There was also an 8% reduction in shoplifting offences with a 33% increase in successful outcomes.

A successful outcome is when a suspect is charged or cautioned, given an ‘out of court’ disposal, a fixed penalty notice or their actions are taken into consideration for another investigation.

Finally, this weekend the city of Brighton and Hove welcomes thousands of visitors for the annual Pride event. As you would expect, Sussex Police has been meticulously planning with the event organisers, the City Council, the hospitality sector and transport providers.  Thoughts will definitely be with those who were affected by last week's shocking attack in Berlin and Sussex Police has reassured residents and visitors that they have comprehensive plans for policing this year’s Pride event with visible uniformed police, plain-clothed officers and specialist teams, including armed officers, being deployed across the city.

I want to thank all the officers, staff and volunteers who will be on duty this weekend. We want everyone attending Pride to enjoy the celebrations but do also look out for one another and report any concerns. If something doesn’t feel right, speak to an officer or a member of security. As always, in an emergency dial 999.
Best wishes

Katy Bourne OBE
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner