[29 October 2007]

THEFT AWARENESS AT ASHDOWN FOREST

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, working in conjunction with the Safer Wealden Partnership have produced new signs that aim to raise awareness of theft in the Ashdown Forest Area. Following regular theft and damage being reported from vehicles in Ashdown Forest it was decided that the local community needed to be made aware of this danger in an attempt to alert drivers of the precautions necessary when parking in these areas.

The new signs offer highly visual messages and are supporting Sussex Police who continue to target the areas of most concern and will be regularly patrolling all car parks in the immediate vicinity.

Inspector Richard Allum from Sussex Police said, "Car crime on the Ashdown Forest has been reduced dramatically over the last two years as a result of regular partnership patrols by Sussex Police, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and the Forest Rangers. Leaflets have been handed out offering simple crime prevention advice and these signs are part of the ongoing work to increase awareness and make the forest even safer to use."

The message from the Safer Wealden Partnership is to ensure that vehicles are parked considerately, locked and have no valuables on show.

For further information please contact Matt Elder at Crowborough Community Fire Station on 01323 462170.