The Eastbourne Herald’s campaign, to arrest the declining number of police officers on the town’s streets, reached a milestone today.

Readers have backed the initiative whole-heartedly, and now a petition is heading off to Downing Street.

It is forecast that almost 160 officers will have left the force by May. It lost 173 last year, mostly through retirement and some for medical reasons. Fifty simply left the force and 20 transferred to other forces.

Despite those figures the force is continuously recruiting and hopes to replace the officers that leave.

But the locals are still feeling vulnerable and 8,000 people have already signed a petition that is due to be sent to Tony Blair.

Campaigner Louise Jones told the Herald: “The campaign has won the backing of young and old people alike.

“They don’t feel the streets are safe enough for them.”

“Unless it is a dire emergency, from what I gather, there’s no police officers to deal with it.”

They were due to take the petition to Downing Street today (THURS), where they hoped to meet Minister for Police, Charles Clarke.

Back to the campaigns index

Do you have a story for us?
Ring the HoldTheFrontPage newsdesk on
01332 291111 x6022, or to e-mail us now – click here