Old Town United
Paul McLaughlin
Hastings Old Town residents and business owners packed the Stables Theatre on Thursday evening (7 August) for an urgent public meeting called by local Labour MP Helena Dollimore to address a sharp rise in crime and antisocial behaviour in the area. The meeting highlighted growing concerns over open drug dealing, burglaries and aggressive begging, which have left many feeling unsafe in their own neighbourhood.
Chief Inspector Simon Yates and Helena Dollimore MP
The theatre was filled to capacity as frustrated locals shared accounts of the impact recent crimes have had on them. High Street shop owners reported on the financial losses they have incurred and the mental stress they have endured in having to deal with the persistent and brazen shop-lifting by well-known repeat offenders.
Residents described feeling increasingly anxious due to persistent antisocial behaviour in and around St Clements Churchyard, Swan Memorial Gardens, Oak Passage and along Croft Road.
One shopkeeper from the High Street spoke of the impact a recent burglary has had on her staff, and the trauma some of them have experienced since the break-in. Others said they no longer felt safe in the evening, citing the brazen attitude of some drug dealers who openly ply their trade in full view of everyone in the street. “Everybody knows who they are and what they are doing but the police do nothing to stop them” lamented one angry and frustrated resident.
Ms Dollimore, who chaired the meeting alongside Sussex Police District Commander Simon Yates, stressed the need for immediate action. “It is vital that we see robust police intervention to protect residents, businesses, and visitors in Hastings Old Town, especially during this busy summer season and beyond,” she said.
The MP acknowledged the strain on police resources but emphasised that community collaboration was key to tackling the issue. She urged local people to remain vigilant and stressed the need to report crimes using the 101 police non-emergency hotline number, “no matter how minor they may seem.”
In terms of resources, Ms Dollimore pointed to the recent £1 billion increase in police funding by the Government which she said, will put 3,000 additional neighbourhood officers and community support officers in post within the next year. At the end of the meeting, letters were distributed giving the email contact details of Sergeant Lee Torbet and PCSO Danielle Lucas who cover the Old Town, to foster trust within the local community.
A recurring theme at the meeting was frustration with the perceived lack of police presence and slow response times when crimes are reported. Many attendees claimed that reporting incidents via the non-emergency 101 hotline was futile, with no obvious follow-up or visible action from the police.
Commander Yates, a Hastings native, sympathised with these concerns but defended the system, explaining that accurate crime reporting was essential for allocating resources. “Every logged incident helps us build a case for more officers in the area,” he said. “If crimes go unreported, we cannot justify additional support.” He also emphasised the importance of setting up a network of local Neighbourhood Watch Groups which he said were shown to reduce crime, deter burglaries and antisocial behaviour, whilst strengthening community bonds.
He also announced that Sussex Police would hold a follow-up community safety session on Sunday, 31 August, at the Stade (11am-12pm), giving locals another opportunity to voice their concerns directly to officers.
The meeting also heard from the two local ward councillors. Julia Hilton, the Green Party borough and county councillor, said in response to complaints about the constant noise of speeding cars and motorbikes, which has become unbearable for many, that she had made repeated approaches to East Sussex Highways to impose a 20mph speed limit across the Old Town. She vowed to continue her efforts to tackle the deafening racket.
Labour’s James Bacon highlighted the importance of increased CCTV coverage, better street lighting, and stronger partnerships with support services to address underlying issues such as addiction and homelessness.
The strong turnout at the Stables Theatre demonstrated the Old Town’s determination to come together to tackle the rise in crime and antisocial behaviour in the area. By the end of the meeting, there was a clear consensus that the police, council officials, businesses, and residents all needed to work together.
Ms Dollimore pledged to compile a detailed report from the meeting and submit it to the District Commander, ensuring all concerns were formally documented. She also promised to keep the community updated on progress, saying, “this is just the beginning.”
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I don’t spy many young people in the audience. Young home owners.Young shop owners.
Why is that?
We all know why!
There is a strong demographic there.
We had many, many issues where I live.
Up from Old London Road in a not so affluent area.
As neighbours we banded together to rid ourselves of the crack dealers.
We had a warning signal.
We recorded all of the car number plates.
We reported EVERY drug deal.
We had incident number after incident number.
Sussex Police were marvellous.
The landlords were on it.
Glenn Haffenden was brilliant as our representative here.
We were not offered CC TV cameras…too expensive.
This area is residential though with no nearby traders/shops etc.
Band together and toughen up people.
Power to the People.
We looked out for each other.
We were on the streets filming and recording them.
We used intimidation tactics.
We worked as a community.
They are gone.