News

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.

The Sussex PCC’s Independent Custody Visiting (ICV) Scheme has been recognised nationally for the outstanding quality of its work after being awarded Platinum status by the Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA).

Sussex is the only ICV Scheme in the UK to attain Platinum status three times under ICVA's Quality Assurance Framework, which assesses compliance with the Code of Practice governing custody visiting.

A pioneering, youth-led initiative continues to gain momentum across Sussex, empowering young people to protect themselves and their peers from online grooming.

In 2025, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Katy Bourne partnered with the Breck Foundation to launch an ambitious Youth Ambassador programme aimed at raising awareness of online grooming among Sussex school children.

Through peer-to-peer sessions, students shared the tragic story of 14 year-old Breck Bednar while equipping their classmates with the knowledge and confidence to recognise and respond to the warning signs of online grooming.

Below is an article from Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne: 

There have been a lot of claims by politicians and commentators over recent months that there is a two-tier system of policing in Britain. This has prompted a national debate about whether police chiefs have been captivated by the arguments of those who assert that police should NOT treat all ethnic groups equally. 

Some campaigners have long held that police forces are institutionally racist and that, no matter how well intentioned and educated police officers are, they suffer from unconscious bias. Such sweeping generalisations are unhelpful and counterproductive.

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne appeared on BBC Politics South East (4 June 2026) alongside Tony Vaughan and Andy Woolley to discuss key community issues affecting the region.

The programme opened with a discussion on anti-racism guidance in policing following the tragic murder of Henry Novak. PCC Bourne expressed her deepest condolences to Henry’s family and all those impacted.