Arrests
Last week, officers made a total of 17 arrests across Wealden for offences including criminal damage, theft and assault.
The neighbourhood policing team also responded to a multitude of reports from anti social behaviour to traffic collisions, whilst regular patrols took place throughout the district.
We were able to attend different events and raise awareness on subjects like dementia and fraud, as a continuous effort to support our local community and keep everyone safe.
Electric Scooters
Did you know it's illegal to use e-scooters on the road or in public spaces?
Officers seized 2 e-scooters over the weekend after being caught riding in the road and on the pavement. It's currently not possible to get insurance for privately owned e-scooters, so using one in public risks the vehicle being seized.
They're classed as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988, which means the rules that apply to motor vehicles, also apply to e-scooters. This includes the need to have a licence, insurance and tax.
It's legal to use an e-scooter on private land with the permission of the land owner.
If you don't have a licence, or the correct licence, or are riding without insurance you could face a Fixed Penalty notice.
For further advice on e-scooters, have a read here 👉 Advice on e-scooter usage | Sussex Police
Careers day!
A slightly different day for our officers yesterday, who took part in careers day at Eastbourne sports park!
It was a great opportunity for us to engage with over 1000 students from schools all over the district as well as discuss a variety of policing careers from sergeants to dog handlers. We love being able to share what we do with the community and love to hear from students who aspire to join the force one day!
When joining the force, you understand that every day really is different and you never know what you're going to be faced with. However, our officers weren't quite expecting 'cockroach handling' to be part of the job! Thanks to Drusillas for bringing these along!
If you or someone you know wants to join the team, you can see our current vacancies here Police Jobs Surrey and Sussex – Police Jobs Surrey and Sussex
Stop Think Fraud
There has been an increase in fraudulent text messages being sent.
Fake texts are often short and simple, but fraudsters use cunning tactics to make them believable. They can even ‘spoof’ the mobile number they message from, so it appears in the same thread as a genuine contact, such as your bank.
Be wary if you receive text messages of the following nature:
💰 An ‘irresistible’ product offer or prize
⚠️ An urgent alert about security, for example your bank account details have been compromised
📦 A delivery company demanding you pay a fee before they deliver a parcel
👪 An appeal from a family member asking you to send money
💬 Messages sent outside normal business hours, especially if they’re very late at night or very early in the morning
If you've been a victim of fraud, find out here what you can do 👉 Report fraud - Stop! Think Fraud (stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk)
Catalytic converter theft
We have seen an increase in the theft of catalytic converters over the last few months. They are often targeted by thieves as they contain valuable metals, and can be removed in less than a minute.
There are signs that can suggest that a theft is being committed:
Prevent it!
Report it!
Whether the crime is happening now, or it has already happened, please report this to us through the appropriate channels. You may be able to support investigations by providing evidence such as ring doorbell footage.
Click, Call, Connect
For non-emergency incidents or crime prevention advice, click www.sussex.police.uk, (If you report a crime online, we will assess it in the same way as a 101 call).
Call 101 when you don’t require an urgent response.
In an emergency when life is threatened or there is immediate danger always call 999.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired, you can contact us using TypeTalk on 18000 or by sending a text to 65999.
