Sussex Police have revealed they dealt with nearly a thousand reports of domestic abuse over the Christmas period.

127 of those calls were on New Year’s Day and 85, on Christmas Day. Officers say on average they usually receive around 63 calls per day throughout the year.
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner, Katy Bourne said that it was sad to know that during what should be a happy time for friends and family-Sussex Police were responding to a huge amount of domestic abuse incidents. She also stated that the need for dedicated patrols over Christmas and the New Year has proved once again to be a necessity.

A man from Crawley has died after being found unconscious in an alleyway.

Officers were called to the scene off Haslett Avenue East at 3.25am on Sunday morning.

The 45 year old Portuguese man was initially treated by paramedics at the scene, before being taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

The man was pronounced dead on Sunday afternoon.

Three men aged 33, 48 and 23, and a woman aged 22, all from Crawley, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and are currently being questioned.

Police are appealing for any potentional witnesses to call 101, quoting Op Atlas.

More information here:
http://www.sussex.police.uk/whats-happening/latest/news-stories/2014/01/19/man-dies-after-being-found-unconscious-in-crawley

A Japanese organisation has visited Crawley

They visited the town last week to hear how the council and local businesses are working to develop the area.

Three members of the Japan Foundation for Regional Vitalization visited the Town Hall on Friday 17 January for a presentation and a meeting with the Mayor.
The visitors spoke to the Mayor of Crawley- Councillor Bob Burgess, and presented him with a donation for his chosen charity Outreach 3 Way. In return they received a plaque of Crawley’s coat of arms.

The Foundation is visiting the UK and Germany as part of a study into work and projects contributing to regional development. Crawley was the first stop on their mission

Crawley MP Henry Smith has got behind a rehabilitation revolution for young offenders.

Almost three quarters of young offenders return to crime when they are released and Justice Secretary Chris Grayling says this must change.

Currently, young offenders only spend on average 12 hours a week in education.

Under new proposals this would be more than doubled to give young offenders much more time in the classroom or workshop to help them develop the skills they need to turn their back on crime.