St Leonards, Sussex – As the race for the next police and crime commissioner (PCC) in Sussex heats up, four candidates have shared their views following a mother’s criticism of Sussex Police’s handling of a violent assault on her teenage sons. Jo Docherty from St Leonards recounted how her sons were attacked by a gang near the White Rock Theatre in Hastings, prompting her to call 999 for help. However, she was directed to redial 101 to report the crime when she mentioned her sons were on their way to the hospital with their father.
The incident left one son with a perforated eardrum and the other with extensive bruising, in addition to psychological trauma. Docherty expressed feeling let down by the lack of immediate response from the police, given that the assailants were still in the vicinity. This event has sparked a conversation among the PCC candidates about the need for improved policing strategies in the region.
Labour’s PCC candidate, Paul Richards, advocated for increased foot patrols to enhance response times to incidents like the one Docherty’s family faced. Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat Jamie Bennett highlighted the resource constraints leading to delayed responses to emergencies, underscoring the need for more officers in the community. Green Party candidate Jonathan Kent emphasized the importance of values in policing and expressed outrage at the handling of the assault on Docherty’s sons.
Incumbent Conservative PCC Katy Bourne, seeking reelection, reached out to Docherty and Chief Constable Jo Shiner to address the incident promptly. Bourne reassured Docherty that she would investigate the response further and ensure that the Chief Constable provides a personal update on the matter. Sussex Police have confirmed an ongoing investigation into the assault, conducting CCTV and house-to-house inquiries while appealing for witnesses to come forward.
As Sussex residents prepare to head to the polls on May 2nd to elect their next PCC and participate in local elections, the incident has underscored the importance of community safety and effective policing strategies in the region. Voters will have the opportunity to consider these issues as they cast their ballots, weighing the candidates’ approaches to law enforcement and public safety.