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Hello
The Crime and Policing Bill has been enacted and is now law, bringing with it important new measures that will strengthen policing and better protect our communities across Sussex.
This legislation directly addresses many of the concerns residents, businesses and rural communities regularly raise with me – particularly shoplifting, abuse of shop staff and rural crime.
Unfortunately, the £200 threshold for shoplifting created the perception that repeated, low-value thefts were not taken seriously so this has now been scrapped. More importantly, the Act introduces a new offence of assaulting a retail worker. Abuse and violence against shop staff are unacceptable and should never be seen as part of the job. I fully support this change which sends a clear message that those working on our high streets deserve protection and respect. It will also enable policing to quantify exactly how much abuse is happening across the retail sector.
Rural crime is another issue I know deeply affects many people in Sussex. I welcome the new power allowing police to enter premises without a warrant to recover stolen, electronically tracked property, such as GPS-tagged farm machinery. This will help officers act quickly, improve recovery rates and disrupt organised criminal gangs who target our farming and rural businesses.
These new powers closely support the priorities set out in my Police & Crime Plan for Sussex – to prevent crime, catch offenders and build public confidence in policing. Whilst legislation alone isn’t the answer, it does give Sussex Police the tools they need to act decisively where it matters most.
I will continue to scrutinise Sussex Police to ensure these powers are used effectively and consistently so that our town centres, villages and countryside are safer for everyone who visits, works and lives in our beautiful county.
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