About 50 officers from Sussex Police are expected to be in London this evening as the Metropolitan Police try to head off a fourth night of rioting.
At least two public order teams – consisting of 22 officers – were sent to the capital last night and made it home safely this morning.
Each team – or serial – comprises three sergeants with six constables and an inspector in overall charge.
The two police helicopters shared by the Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire forces were also sent to assist.
Officers who have been given specialist training in policing public disorder were called out on their rest days to provide reinforcements during the rioting in London.
Sussex Police was at pains to point out that normal policing in Brighton and Hove and the rest of the county had not been affected.
Chief Superintendent Graham Bartlett, the divisional commander for Brighton and Hove, said that there had been no related disturbances in the city last night.
He urged anyone who thought that trouble was starting to get in touch as soon as possible so that problems could be dealt with swiftly and not allowed to get out of hand.
Crisis
Last night the Met had more than 6,000 officers on the streets, including the units from Sussex, and made hundreds of arrests.
This morning the Prime Minister David Cameron chaired a meeting of the cabinet’s crisis response committee, known as COBRA, which stands for Cabinet Office Briefing Room A.
Afterwards, Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said that 16,000 officers would be on the streets this evening and that their tactics would be tougher.
He said that he would be calling on 26 forces to provide support for the Met this evening.
Sussex is one of the forces receiving a request for help.
A spokesman said: “Any further requests for support in the coming days will be considered alongside the need to maintain local policing.”
Some of the trouble last night happened close to two busy railway stations used by thousands of commuters from Brighton and Hove – East Croydon and Clapham Junction.
This morning services were unaffected although at least one street near Clapham Junction was sealed off as a crime scene.
Vigorous
This afternoon Simon Kirby, the Conservative MP for Brighton Kemptown, said: “People should be in no doubt that the government will do everything necessary to restore order to Britain’s streets and to make them safe for law-abiding citizens.
“We have a vigorous Parliament and many ways in which people can make their views known.
“Rioting and looting are never an acceptable mechanism of protest.
“I feel huge sympathy for the families who’ve suffered, innocent people who’ve been burned out of their houses and to businesses who have seen their premises smashed, their products looted and their livelihoods potentially ruined.
“I also feel for all those who live in fear because of these appalling scenes that we’ve seen on the streets of our country.
“I am writing to our own local police superintendent to ensure that contingency planning is in place in case there are any copycat incidents in Brighton.
“I was very pleased to see that Parliament will be recalled for a day on Thursday. This is an important step.
“The Prime Minister will make a statement and a debate will be held so that the House can come together in condemnation of these crimes and stand together in determination to rebuild these communities.”
