Sussex Alerts - Lewes and Seahaven Police

Friday 2nd January 2026

Sussex Alerts - Lewes and Seahaven Police

Dear Residents,

Wishing you all a very happy and safe New Year 2026.

Cold weather road safety

During the winter months, weather conditions can make driving more difficult and potentially hazardous.

- Clear your windscreen fully before setting off; avoid leaving your vehicle unattended with your keys in the ignition

- Top up on vehicle fluids, including de-icer and engine oil

- Ensure your mobile is fully charged in the event of an emergency

- Stick to the limit on the roads, if you can plan your journey to stick to main roads

- Check lights are in working order, as well as wipers and ensure tyres are fit for the road

- Listen to local radio stations for road conditions and potential delays to your journey

If you come across obstacles in the road contact your local authority, in an emergency contact the police or fire service.

In an emergency always call 999.

Did you witness a fire at the Gateway Café?

We’re appealing for witnesses and information following a fire at the Gateway Café in Centenary Park, Piddinghoe Avenue, Peacehaven on Sunday 21 December at around 8.30pm.

Emergency services were called to the scene and the fire was extinguished. No injuries were reported.

It is believed that the fire was deliberate, and the incident is being treated as arson.

Officers are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry in an ongoing investigation and are seeking to speak to five boys in connection with the incident.

We encourage anyone who witnessed the incident or who has relevant information such as CCTV or mobile footage to report it to us.

You can do this online or by calling 101 quoting serial 1076 of 21/12.

Get any new toys or gadgets for Christmas? 

Be mindful burglars know that many households often have new and often expensive, items in their homes over Christmas.

Post Christmas crime prevention advice:

Avoid becoming an easy target for post-holiday burglars/robbers by not leaving boxes for new electronics and other items outside your wheelie bin.

With computer equipment, you might consider keeping the boxes for safe storage, or moving in the future.

Think about keeping broken-down boxes inside in a garage or loft, or taking them to recycle centres in the New Year.

Register your property on the national property marking database, search Immobilise online.

Contact us

For non-emergency incidents or crime prevention advice, click www.sussex.police.uk (If you report a crime online, we will assess it in the same way as a 101 call).  

Call 101 when you do not require an urgent response. In an emergency when life is threatened or there is immediate danger always call 999.  

Speak to us face-to-face at a police station or contact the local policing team at www.sussex.police.uk/area/your-area.  

If you have a hearing or speech impairment, or other forms of communication difficulties.

Those with textphone can text 18001 101, or BSL users can use SignVideo to provide a Video Relay Service (here: https://signvideo.co.uk/), to report crime through a live online interpreter, who will contact the police on your behalf, when you do not require an urgent response.

In an emergency when life is threatened or there is immediate danger please use the textphone service 18000 or text us on 999.

BSL users can call 999 BSL (here: https://999bsl.co.uk/)  to use a British Sign Language interpreter.

For more information on textphone and Relay UK, including help setting up the Relay APP please visit: https://www.relayuk.bt.com/how-to-use-relay-uk/contact-999-using-relay-uk.html