Calling the police

In an emergency, particularly if you see a crime in progress, call 999. Do not be scared: the police call centre will assess the urgency of your call.

For matters that are not an emergency but still urgent --- such as reporting a crime that has taken place, or suspicious activity or persons --- you should call 0845-6070-999 or e-mail contact.centre@sussex.pnn.police.uk. You can also e-mail reports to the local Community Contact Co-ordinator at communitycontact.rother@sussex.pnn.police.uk. She will publish the report on the Community Contact e-mail network.

If you have information about a crime that you wish to give anonymously, call 0800-555111. Calls will not be traced.

If you are the victim of anti-social behaviour, call Emily Chironda on 01424-4567156.

If you are still not sure what to do, talk to your local Neighbourhood Watch street co-ordinator or call Winchelsea Neighbourhood Watch on 01797 225333. Other useful contacts are:

• Crime Prevention Office, Lee Harris, on 0845-6070-999 extension 64215
• www.sussex.police.uk for advice about crime prevention
• subscribe to the Neighbourhood Watch/Community Contact e-mail alert by e-mailing cc.registration@sussex.pnn.police.uk

Crime in Winchelsea

Winchelsea is fortunate in not suffering from a chronic crime problem. The purpose of the village's Neighbourhood Watch is therefore to try to prevent occasional burglaries and car break-ins by encouraging residents to be vigilant and report suspicious activities or persons to the police, and to maintain a network of co-ordinators which can be called into action in the event of a serious incident or emergency.

How the NBW is organised in Winchelsea

Neighbourhood Watch tries to ensure that there is a co-ordinator in each street and, in longer streets, one co-ordinator in block. Each co-ordinator is part of a telephone tree, which allows messages to be passed quickly around the village. It is then up to each co-ordinator to contact his or her neighbours to pass on information. Each co-ordinator also has a deputy, who can stand in for the co-ordinator if the latter is absent.

The name of the co-ordinator and his/her deputy for your street has been circulated to each house. If your street does not yet have a co-ordinator, please consider taking on the role. Otherwise, you and your neighbours will be out in the cold. Remember, Neighbourhood Watch is about a community helping itself. To volunteer as a street co-ordinator, contact Winchelsea Neighbourhood Watch on 225333 or talk to any of the existing street co-ordinators.

Every household in Winchelsea should have received a Help Card from Neighbourhood Watch (if you have not or have lost yours, call 225333). The card is intended to encourage residents to report crimes, by reminding them of what to do in the event of a crime, or if they suspect a crime is being committed or has already occurred. It also lists the names of your steet co-ordinator and deputy, and useful local telephone numbers, including the police and other emergency services, as well as leaving space for residents to record contact numbers for others to see if they get into difficulties. The Help Card was designed by Winchelsea Neighbourhood Watch, with the advice of the local Neighbourhood Police Team at Rye, and the Rother District Crime Reduction Officer. Funding was raised from the Rother Community Safety Fund and the Parish Council, as well as local businesses: the Bridge Inn, Nathan at the Little Shop, The Lodge at Winchelsea, the New Inn, Strand House and JC Leisure Motorhomes.

Occasionally, Neighbourhood Watch notices will be posted on the parish noticeboard with alerts about crimes in the area, warnings of possible future criminal activity and other useful information. Some of these alerts and advice on how to protect yourself from fraudsters are listed in the panel on the right and can be viewed by clicking on the links. To receive such information directly, you can sign up to an e-mail service run by the area Neighbourhood Watch.

The police

Winchelsea is part of Area ER3 within the East Sussex Division. The area includes Camber, East Guldeford, Icklesham, Iden, Playden, Rye, Rye Foreign, Rye Harbour and Winchelsea Beach. The Acting District Commander is Inspector Heather Keating, who can be contacted on rother@sussex.pnn.police.uk. 

Recent changes to policing include the formation of Neighbourhood Policing Teams, re-opening the police station at Rye, and a more visible police presence on the streets. These have had a very positive effect on local crime and disorder.

The address of Rye Police Station is at:

The Rye Neighbourhood Police Team sergeant is:

The Neighbourhood PC for Winchelsea is:

Higher police visibility has been achieved through the use of part-time auxiliaries called Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s). You may notice our PCSO's walking around the Town (do introduce yourself). To contact them, call:

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