Councillor commends Community Safety Partnership activities
A Cabinet councillor has praised the 'vital contribution' of the local Community Safety Partnership (CSP) in ensuring Lewes district residents feel safe and strengthening community cohesion.
Councillor Christine Robinson, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, said: "It is crucial that people feel safe and secure where they live and work, and the partnership's work makes a vital contribution towards making sure Lewes district remains one of the safest places to live in the country.
"We welcome the partnership's efforts to prevent crime and anti‑social behaviour, and the positive difference this makes to our communities."
Recent data shows that Lewes district continues to be among the safest places to live in the country. Overall reported crime fell by nearly 5% in the year to December 2025, with reductions across most categories of acquisitive crime including residential burglary, theft from vehicles and shoplifting. Public place violent crime decreased by 6% and serious violent crime by 21%, continuing to report at low levels across the district. The latest national Crime Severity Score Index places Lewes as one of the two best‑performing areas within its benchmarking group of fifteen local authorities.
Key activities delivered by the partnership over the past year include:
- Supporting crime reduction in town centres through the Safer Streets Summer in Lewes and Winter of Action in Seaford, including extra police patrols, targeted business crime enforcement and tackling persistent anti‑social behaviour.
- Expanding the Disc reporting system, now used by 68 retailers and 26 licensed premises, helping to identify offenders and support covert policing operations that led to multiple exclusions of repeat shoplifters.
- Investing in community safety for children and young people, with more than 2,700 free places funded for youth diversion activities including sports, drama therapy, life skills workshops and wellbeing sessions across the district.
- Supporting work to reduce knife crime and serious violence, including Sussex Police operations, knife sweeps, test purchasing and the Fearless schools programme delivered with Crimestoppers following the tragic death of a young man in Seaford in October 2025.
- Backing local youth provision, with funding for youth clubs and activity programmes in Newhaven, Cooksbridge, Malling and Seaford, promoting positive engagement and reducing risks linked to exploitation or offending.
- Working with the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership, supporting community Speedwatch volunteers and funding new road safety signage for the Fatal Five road safety initiative.
- Strengthening responses to domestic and sexual abuse, contributing to countywide work to improve specialist accommodation and victim support.
The partnership has also worked closely with local communities in the wake of rising tensions, including co-ordinated action following the Peacehaven Mosque arson attack and support for the Community of Kindness campaign, which displays children's artwork across coastal towns to promote unity and belonging.
Councillor Robinson added: "At a time when tensions have become more evident in some communities, the partnership's co-ordinated response has provided reassurance when it has been needed most. Its work with local residents, faith groups and young people shows the real value of standing together, supporting one another and promoting respect across our district."
The Eastbourne and Lewes CSP is funded through an annual grant awarded by the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner.
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