Dangerous criminals will be subject to the new High Harm Domestic Abuse (DA) Perpetrator Unit in Sussex. It follows government funding worth £400,000 to crack down on those who batter their partners and think they can escape the consequences. Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne says the unit will track down the “most active, dangerous and serial perpetrators of domestic abuse”. The unit will address the reasons why the thugs commit the abusive crimes. Among the new team will be detectives and those with the role of supervising criminals in the community, and they will be joined by a mental health worker from Brighton Housing Trust, a drugs and alcohol worker from the charity Change Grow Live, an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor from Worth Services, and probation-trained officers from Seetec Justice.
Alongside fellow recruit Nandi Luthuli and under the guidance of PC Nick Funnell chased down a shoplifting suspect in Hailsham. Hannah said: “It gave me a confidence boost, and I was pleased to get my first one under my belt. It s been a steep learning curve but I am enjoying it. “I spoke publicly about my brother’s suicide in the media to raise awareness and help create positive change. “It was this desire to make a difference and be there for others at their time of greatest need that motivated me to join the police. PC Hannah Richards is on the Sussex Police fast track detective training scheme