Evening safety patrol staff are set to be withdrawn from three towns in Sussex because of budget constraints.

The scheme will end in Eastbourne, Crawley and Worthing, areas where it was intended to safeguard people in town centres after dark and support the nightlife industry.

Sussex Police said the move followed a significant cut in Home Office funding.

Brighton’s central area will continue to have the service, though with reduced resources.

Chief Inspector Jim Loader stated that maintaining public safety during evening hours remains a key priority for the force.

According to Ch Insp Loader’s comments to the BBC, keeping the night-time economy secure stays an important focus for Sussex Police, and the force would monitor the changes closely to ensure existing resources were used as effectively as possible, with officers continuing to provide a visible and active presence in the affected towns.

The evening patrol teams were run by a security firm based in Brighton, which had received specialist training to deal with situations in town centres. The initiative had expanded to Eastbourne in 2024 after demonstrating success in Brighton and Crawley.

These workers were trained to spot and help vulnerable people, calm down conflicts, and offer additional security alongside police and partner organisations.

Residents across Sussex took to social media to share their anger about the cuts.

Jason Steele said he would have expected more patrols with rising crime rates rather than fewer.

Lorraine Romaine described the situation as dreadful.

Rose Marie noted that criminals would exploit the fact that this protection had been removed.

Nick Cooper called the decision remarkable.

Eastbourne Police had previously described the marshals’ work as providing extra surveillance and awareness in the night-time economy, helping to identify vulnerable individuals and prevent situations from worsening.

Resolve Security ran these teams, while Sussex Police paid for their specialist vulnerability training.

Sussex Police launched the Night Safety Marshal initiative in Brighton in 2022.

In Eastbourne, the marshals worked from 8pm to 4am on Friday and Saturday nights after their introduction in January 2024, which was backed by the Police and Crime Commissioner through the Safer Streets Fund.

By April 2024, Eastbourne’s team had helped more than 100 vulnerable people and recorded or resolved over 15 incidents.