Sussex Police
South East · Territorial force · 3,150 officers
Key Statistics
Officers
3,150
Staff
1,500
Area (sq miles)
1,456
Population served
1,720,000
About Sussex Police
Covering East and West Sussex including Brighton, Crawley and Gatwick Airport. Offers coastal, urban and rural policing with collaborative specialist operations alongside Surrey Police.
Sussex Police operates in the South East region, covering both East and West Sussex, which includes urban areas like Brighton and Crawley, as well as the transport hub of Gatwick Airport. The force’s jurisdiction features a mix of coastal, urban, and rural policing environments. Notably, Sussex borders Surrey, leading to collaborative operations with Surrey Police, which enhances their capacity to address issues that span multiple territories.
The operational landscape includes the busy transport corridor of Gatwick Airport, critical for both public safety and counter-terrorism efforts. Sussex Police also handles a range of historic sites and events, responding to unique challenges associated with tourism and public gatherings.
Sussex Police prides itself on several notable specialist units, including the Cyber Crime Unit, the Dog Unit, and the Special Operations Unit, which addresses high-risk incidents. The Rural Crime Team focuses on issues affecting rural communities and agricultural areas, crafting bespoke responses to these specific challenges.
Current strategic priorities revolve around tackling violent crime, safeguarding vulnerable individuals, and enhancing community relations. The force is also keen on improving their approach to domestic abuse and sexual offenses, ensuring victims receive appropriate support while offenders are dealt with effectively. This multifaceted approach reflects their commitment to making Sussex safer and bolstering community trust. Overall, for applicants looking to join, Sussex Police offer a dynamic and varied policing environment rich with opportunity for professional growth.
Current priorities
- Tackling violent crime
- Safeguarding vulnerable individuals
- Improving community relations
- Addressing domestic abuse
- Focusing on sexual offenses
Notable specialisms
Source: About Sussex Police. Summary fetched 2026-07-05.
Public-data snapshot
Workforce
Officers
3,150
Staff
1,500
Total headcount
4,650
Source: Home Office Police Workforce Statistics as of 31 March 2025 · OGL v3
HMICFRS PEEL rating
good
Inspection cycle: 2023-2025
Source: HMICFRS PEEL assessments · Open Government Licence v3.0
In recent oversight reports
Sussex Police is named in 1 recent IOPC investigation outcome or HMICFRS thematic report.
Terms of reference: Home Secretary’s commission for a thematic inspection of the handling of misconduct in fire and rescue services
2023-07-19 · HMICFRS
From data.police.uk
data.police.uk covers England, Wales & Northern Ireland; not Police Scotland.
Stop and search
Latest available month: 2026-08. 654 recorded stop-and-search records that month. Officer-defined ethnicity was recorded on 99.5% of records.
By object of search (2026-08)
| Controlled drugs | 388 |
| Offensive weapons | 106 |
| Stolen goods | 69 |
| Article for use in theft | 54 |
| Articles for use in criminal damage | 14 |
| (not recorded) | 9 |
| Psychoactive substances | 8 |
| Goods on which duty has not been paid etc. | 4 |
| Firearms | 2 |
By outcome (2026-08)
| A no further action disposal | 374 |
| Arrest | 137 |
| Community resolution | 102 |
| Summons / charged by post | 29 |
| (not recorded) | 6 |
| Caution (simple or conditional) | 4 |
| Penalty Notice for Disorder | 2 |
Source: data.police.uk · Open Government Licence v3.0
Recorded crime by category
16,675 crimes recorded by Sussex Police in 2026-08 (latest published month), by category. Counted from the published street-level archive; England, Wales & Northern Ireland only.
| Crime type (2026-08) | Recorded |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 5,028 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 4,050 |
| Shoplifting | 1,756 |
| Public order | 1,416 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 1,103 |
| Other theft | 959 |
| Vehicle crime | 594 |
| Drugs | 508 |
| Burglary | 390 |
| Other crime | 274 |
| Possession of weapons | 212 |
| Robbery | 157 |
| Bicycle theft | 123 |
| Theft from the person | 105 |
| Total | 16,675 |
Source: data.police.uk street-level archive · Open Government Licence v3.0
Deaths during or following police contact
IOPC-recorded fatalities involving Sussex Police over 2004/05 to 2024/25 (2024/25 in brackets). These use the IOPC’s five categories, which have different definitions and are not additive. Figures count incidents the IOPC attributed to Sussex Police; see the national page for how multi-force incidents are handled.
South East Allowance
Up to £2,000 / year
Force-discretionary South East allowance, set by the chief constable up to the statutory maximum, to help offset higher living costs in the South East.
Recruitment
How to join Sussex Police
Application stages, entry routes, fitness and vetting requirements.