Decision - Dealing with Theft from Person at Public Events

17.11    An introduction was given by Sussex Police, and the extent of the problem – both locally and nationally – was highlighted. A significant amount of planning at large public events was given over to dealing with such organised criminality, and covert Officers were used to specifically target crimes in relation to theft from person and illegal drug supply. The primary responsibility sat with event organisers, and there was also work going on nationally to create databases; as well as advances in mobile phone technology which aided with tracking and identifying stolen handsets.

17.12    Councillor Simson expressed concern about how such crime could impact on the local crime statistics, and asked what measures could be taken to increase education and awareness of this problem. Officers explained that the reported rates of these crimes were comparable to those of previous years at similar events; a new poster campaign was due to be launched as well increased use of social media to raise awareness and arrests had been made.

17.13    In response to a query from Councillor Bowden it was clarified that 6 arrests had been made at Pride in August relating to illegal drug supply and theft from person.