Substantial fall in drug dealing across Littlehampton

In the year to the end of April, offences of trafficking in controlled drugs were down by almost 80 per cent, from 61 to 13.

Virtually all of the fall was down to three wards in Littlehampton – Beach, with no offences recorded, compared with 12 in 2012/13, River, with just one offence, against 22 and Ham, a decrease of 13 to three.

Cannabis possession offences across the area also reduced, by 14 to 95, although in River ward recorded cases were up by more than 50 per cent from 24 to 37. Possession of other drugs rose by just one, to 34 overall, with a decrease from 17 to 10 in River ward, although cases in Ham ward were up from three to eight, and in Angmering there were three offences, compared with none in 2012/13.

Councillors will be given the full figures next week