Sussex Police Tactical Enforcement Units Expand Into Brighton

A specialist Sussex Police unit targeting dangerous and persistent criminals has expanded by opening a new section in Brighton and Hove.

The county's police service said its new "Tactical Enforcement Unit" (TEU) was intended to make the city a "hostile environment" for serious and organised criminal operations.

Officers said the teams used "proactive" techniques to target persistent and dangerous offenders — a system already operated by similar units in East Sussex and West Sussex.

The newest team is made up of eight PCs and a Sergeant, and is supported by a voluntary Special Constable.

Police said it was launched on Monday (27 July) and in less than 24 hours had seen action in making three arrests:

• a 23-year-old man from Brighton who was wanted on suspicion of burglary where a motorbike was stolen on 22 April at Bolney Grange Industrial Park Haywards Heath;
• a 15-year-old boy who was arrested on suspicion of committing a knifepoint street robbery in Preston Park, Brighton, on 21 July and possession of cocaine;
• a man aged 23 from Hove who was wanted on suspicion of stalking and committing a domestic assault in June.

According to officers, extra staffing has come about through an increase in recruitment after a rise in council tax to pay for the police, along with government funding.

The kinds of crime targeted by the TEU were said to include "serious violence, organised crime and county lines drugs gangs".

Police claimed the teams, made up of officers with specialist skills in proactive policing, intend to carry out targeted disruption, enforcement and patrol activities wherever it is most needed.

Taking into account the whole of Sussex, since the launch of the TEU on 16 December, the teams said they have made 209 arrests, conducted 524 intelligence led stop and searches, seized thousands of pounds worth of illegal drugs, weapons, cash and helped to safeguard vulnerable people and those at risk of exploitation. 

Chief Constable Jo Shiner said:

“The Tactical Enforcement Unit is a visible, proactive deterrent to those at the centre of the serious offending, supporting local policing teams in dealing with specific spikes in crimes that impact on the community and it has already made a huge difference.

“The expansion of the unit by adding divisional teams is good news for the communities of Sussex and bad news for criminals and those involved in serious violence who target vulnerable people across our county, whether through county lines drugs gangs or other organised crime.

"The TEU teams work where the need is greatest and provide public reassurance by being present and proactively disrupting and taking off the streets some of our most prolific criminals."

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne added:

"The results of the unit so far should act as a warning for anyone who wishes to exploit or endanger our residents."