Nusrat Ghani, MP for Sussex Weald, met with representatives from Sussex Police to get an update on local policing activities, resourcing around rural crime and what the force is doing to tackle violence against women and girls and support victims of domestic violence.
At the meeting, which took place at the Crowborough Police station, Nusrat raised issues of most local concern, including rural crime, anti-social behaviour, tackling violence against women and girls, supporting victims of domestic abuse, and increased resourcing for Crowborough Training Camp now that the Home Office began using it to house asylum seekers.
Rural crime remains one of the biggest concerns, especially during the winter months, and Nusrat continues to work with the Wealden Neighbourhood Policing Team and Rural Crime Team on a multi-agency cross-border response and increased police presence.
Moreover, every woman should feel safe to walk on our streets without fear of harassment or violence. Nusrat has been campaigning on this since her first election to Parliament and has regular meetings with Sussex Police to ensure they have the tools and resources they need to support education and awareness programmes across Sussex.
Nusrat was also keen to discuss what additional support is being provided to Crowborough policing teams to ensure increased police presence in the community in light of the first asylum seekers arriving to the Crowborough Training Camp last month, and given that the site is expected to be scaled up to house up to 540 male asylum seekers.
Nusrat Ghani said: “I am in regular contact with Sussex Police to raise concerns and cases of individual residents. With the added pressure of the situation at Crowborough Training Camp this year and with the lack of transparency from Wealden District Council, I requested to be kept updated on policing developments, to avoid confusion and misinformation. I am keen to support Sussex Police in putting the case forward for increased resources and more police visibility across our towns and villages to ensure local communities continue to feel safe.”
Pictured above: Sussex Police Superintendent Rachel Swinney and Nusrat Ghani MP