Crime has fallen in hotspot areas after six months of targeted action, Sussex Police said.

The force has identified 29 critical areas including Hastings, Eastbourne, Brighton, Crawley, Horsham, Worthing and Chichester.

Crime in these areas fell by more than 14% in the six months from April this year, when the new Hotspot Policing Team was launched, compared to the same period last year.

A total of 161 people were arrested as a direct result, police said.

The new unit is dedicated to tackling anti-social behavior and serious violence in 29 areas with relatively high concentrations of crime.

More than 10,000 hours of extra patrols and tens of thousands of public engagements were undertaken by officers.

In the six-month period, anti-social behavior offenses fell by 17.9 per cent and reports of serious bodily harm fell by 29.1 per cent, police said.

Knife crime has risen by 10.3% following the rise of two new hotspots in the Brighton area. In the other 27 hotspot areas, knife crime fell by 22%.

Meanwhile, more than 150 searches were carried out in hotspot areas, resulting in the seizure of 23 knives, 27 stolen items and 37 separate quantities of drugs.

Inspector Jim Loader said the figures showed communities were now “even safer places”.

“Work in our hotspot areas will continue in earnest,” he said.

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