A SHOPLIFTER struck while Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne was visiting Little Common businesses today (Thursday) to discuss crime concerns, with the suspect being detained on the spot by a police officer accompanying the group.
Katy was in the village alongside local ward councillors Connor Winter and Jimmy Stanger, as well as a local Police Sergeant, Tom Mele, to hear first-hand from traders about anti-social behaviour, shoplifting and other crime issues affecting the area.
But during the visit, a theft took place inside one of the shops they were visiting, prompting the accompanying officer to intervene immediately, giving Katy Bourne a first-hand view of the problem locally.
Speaking to Bexhill News, Mrs Bourne said the incident highlighted exactly the kind of issues facing high streets across Sussex.
She said: “We’ve been round quite a few of the businesses in Little Common today, just chatting to the owners, which has been really good. I’m always pleased to hear that people feel safe, but obviously, they’ve been telling me about particular incidents that have happened, which has been very useful.
“But one of the exciting things that happened was while we were in one of the shops, a theft was in progress, and because we had the police officer with us, he was able to deal with it, so actually, right in front of us, you could see shoplifting happening.
“I’ve been talking about this for many years, as people know, and I’m really delighted that Sussex Police take it as seriously as they do, but this particular individual, who they detained today, was also caught very recently doing exactly the same thing.
“So what will happen now, when it goes to court, they’ll look for a Criminal Behaviour Order, and the individual may even have to wear a tag as a result.”
The visit was organised by Cllr Connor Winter as part of ongoing efforts to tackle retail crime and encourage businesses to make use of reporting systems such as DISC, which has previously been promoted to help identify repeat offenders and improve intelligence sharing between traders and police.
Councillor Winter said the incident demonstrated why visible policing remained important.
He said: “Strong local representation means action and bringing senior decision-makers directly into our communities to hear concerns first-hand.
“The Little Common Business Walkabout with Katy Bourne proved extremely productive, with many local businesses speaking openly about anti-social behaviour and low-level crime affecting the village.
“I would like to thank Katy for taking the time to listen to residents, traders, and the concerns I raised as the local ward councillor.
“During the walkabout, we also witnessed a live shop theft incident within the village, with the individual quickly apprehended and dealt with by officers, a stark reminder of the challenges facing some of our businesses and why visible policing and proactive engagement matter.
“This is what active local representation delivers: visibility, engagement, and action on the ground.”
The visit comes after concerns were raised by Bexhill businesses last year over rising shoplifting and anti-social behaviour, with some traders saying crime had left them questioning whether to continue investing in the town.
