Hundreds of Sussex officers protest in London the day before awards ceremony

Seven hundred off-duty police officers and staff from Brighton, Hove and Sussex went to London to take part in a protest rally today (Thursday 10 May).

They were among an estimated 30,000 members from around the country protesting about cuts to officer numbers.

And their protest took place on a day when public sector workers went on strike and held protests in Brighton and Hove as well as in the capital.

The protesting police officers also expressed concerns about the review of pay and conditions carried out by lawyer Tom Winsor on behalf of the government.

Tomorrow (Friday 11 May) a total of 50 Sussex Police officers, staff and volunteers from Brighton and Hove are due to be recognised for their contribution to local policing.

They are due to be congratulated for their work over and above their daily roles and responsibilities at a divisional awards ceremony.

The ceremony is being held at the Crew Club in Coolham Drive, Whitehawk.

Chief Superintendent Graham Bartlett, the Brighton and Hove divisional commander, said: “These awards are an opportunity to recognise the outstanding commitment demonstrated by those who work for Brighton and Hove division.

“Like many other public services we are undergoing a period of significant change and modernising the way we work.

“But these staff have all demonstrated the values which will always underpin our service – they have put first the people we serve.

“I am proud to be leading a division which has such a lot of good work to celebrate.”

The award recipients include Detective Inspector Ian Still and his team for their investigation into a series of armed robberies in bookmakers around the country.

The investigation spanned seven different police force areas and led to the arrest of Martin Reilly who wore an Elvis disguise when he robbed a Ladbrokes in Brighton.

Reilly was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 12 years after his conviction for seven counts of robbery.