News

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne has launched her annual Safer in Sussex Survey.

The survey seeks views from Sussex residents on: 

• How safe you feel in Sussex
• How easy it is to access police services (in person and online)
• Future changes to policing - including use of technology and governance arrangements.

Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) Katy Bourne joined Sussex Police's Rural Crime Team during Operation Barley, a multi-agency enforcement initiative led by the Environment Agency aimed at tackling illegal waste crime and fly-tipping across the county.

The operation focuses on identifying and stopping offenders who are transporting waste illegally before it is dumped, helping to prevent environmental damage and reduce the significant clean-up costs often shouldered by local authorities, landowners and taxpayers. Alongside Sussex Police and the Environment Agency, partners including the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and Chichester District Council took part in the operation, demonstrating the value of a coordinated approach to tackling waste-related offences.

Yesterday, Sussex PCC Katy Bourne and Jacqueline McKenzie, Head of Immigration and Asylum Law at Leigh Day were invited to discuss the new Home Office advice leaflet for asylum seekers on the Today Programme.

Sussex Police has been ranked as the top performing force for answering 999 calls for 12 consecutive months.

National figures show the force answered over 98% of 999 calls within 10 seconds, outperforming every other force in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland between August 2025 and July 2026.  

This is the first time any police force has topped the table for a whole year.

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne has shared the following statement regarding the train derailment that occurred in Lewes on 13th August 2026: 

“My thoughts remain with everyone impacted by yesterday’s incident, especially the two people who have sustained serious injuries and the many others who were hurt. I know how deeply unsettling this must have been for those affected, their families and the wider community.

“For many, the shock of what happened will take time to process and I encourage anyone who needs emotional or practical support to come forward.

“My office will continue working closely with the police and local partners - including our commissioned victims’ service providers - to ensure people get the help they need.

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Katy Bourne OBE has released the following statement regarding the prisoner early-release announcement

"The Government's decision to exclude those convicted of rape, serious child sex offences and grooming from the prisoner early-release scheme is welcome news but this climbdown should never have been necessary in the first place. Despite numerous warnings, this Government ploughed ahead not giving a thought to the anguish they were putting victims through. Yet again today, we see victims learning their fate from a press release. They deserve better than this.   

“Victims of these horrific offences need the reassurance that the people who have caused them such acute harm will continue to serve the custodial sentences that were originally intended.

“Over recent months, I have heard directly from victims across Sussex after they received, unexpectedly, letters stating how the early-release scheme could affect offenders in their cases.

“For many, the reaction was one of real anxiety and distress.

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Katy Bourne has welcomed Sussex Police’s adoption of the Forcer Protocol, a pioneering initiative designed to improve the identification and safeguarding of veterans who may be at risk of harm.

Designed to save valuable time in high-risk situations, the Forcer Protocol allows families and carers to share essential information about vulnerable veterans in advance, helping police and partner agencies respond swiftly, intelligently and with compassion when someone goes missing.

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne comments on the introduction of HMICFRS's new Policing Performance System:

"The introduction of HMICFRS’s new Policing Performance System is an important step forward in strengthening accountability, improving performance and ensuring the public receives the high-quality policing service it deserves.

“Sussex Police's assessment under the new framework is very encouraging. The force has been assigned the lowest of four escalating levels – Level One - reflecting the impressive improvement in performance in recent years and the effective leadership currently in place.

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Katy Bourne will question police chief officers on a wide-ranging agenda of topics covering community confidence and claims of two-tier policing, the protection of children from online harm and abuse, police officer suicides and road safety at this month’s live-streamed Performance and Accountability Meeting.

WHEN: Thursday 16 July 2026; 13:00
WHERE: Watch live: Home - Sussex PCC Webcasting. A recording will be available to view afterwards.

For the eleventh month in a row, Sussex Police is proud to have had the quickest response to 999 calls of any emergency service in the country.

And now that hard work has been recognised when Sussex Police won the Force Control Room Team of the Year Award at The National Control Room Awards ceremony on Thursday. (July 9)

The awards cover the whole of the UK and include fire and ambulance control rooms, in addition to police forces.