Sussex Knife Crime: More Arrests

"Two firearms thought to be gas pistols, a large zombie knife, a machete, a baseball bat, and a small hand axe."

That's what police say is among items taken off the streets of Sussex in a weekend of targeted patrols in Eastbourne, Hastings, Rother and Wealden helped by Home Office funding for tackling serious violence.

A single weekend in Hastings also brought four arrests.

On September 5, officers using a warrant entered an address in Hastings and found a small amount of cannabis.

The person of interest — a 35-year-old woman — had attempted to import a "taser torch", but UK Border Force intercepted it first.

She was transported to Hastings Police Station for a voluntary interview. 

The suspect fully admitted the attempted importation and possession of cannabis and was served with a community resolution.

It required that she acknowledged receipt of an official warning letter for the importation offence, and that she should complete an online training course.

She also surrendered a small hand axe. 

Later the same day, officers responded to a report of a knife, found in a bush in Farley Bank.

They safely recovered the weapon.

On 6 September, officers stopped and searched a vehicle at Falaise Skate Park.

A 30-year-old woman failed a drugs wipe and was arrested on suspicion of drug driving.

She has been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

Afterwards, officers spotted a group of young men behaving suspiciously next to a vehicle.  

All were searched — and police found they had about them a "significant quantity" of cannabis and cash.

Officers arrested two 18-year-old men and a 19-year-old man on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a Class B drug.

They have been released under investigation.

As a result of this discovery, police went on to search several addresses, where they seized cannabis, two firearms thought to be gas pistols, a large zombie knife, a machete and a baseball bat.

Over the same weekend, teams also carried out stop-and-searches in Eastbourne and Wealden districts.

Inspector Howard Nevill said:

"Our priority is keeping local communities safe and feeling safe.

"That's why we are devoting significant resources to engage with residents about knife crime and target offenders. 

"Sussex is a safe place to live.

"Although knife-related incidents remain relatively low in the region in comparison with the national picture, we are determined to keep these harmful items off our streets. 

"It remains a dangerous misconception that carrying a knife makes you safer, as it actually puts you and those around you at a greater risk.

"We encourage anyone who carries a knife for protection, or is considering doing so, to seek help.

"We have amnesty bins at a number of police stations where knives can be safely disposed of — no questions asked. 

"If you have any information about knife crime please report it to us online or by calling 101. In an emergency, always dial 999.

"You can report anonymously at https://fearless.org".