A community meeting was held last month with residents to share views on drug and alcohol harms and anti-social behaviour in the city centre.
The meeting at Hove Town Hall was arranged by local councillors to hear from residents and explore further joint working across the council, Sussex Police and partner organisations to help reduce the harm caused by drugs.
The event was opened by Councillor Andrei Czolak, Policy Lead for Community Safety. Opening statements were also made by the council’s Chief Executive Jess Gibbons and Chief Superintendent Rachel Carr from Sussex Police.
A number of break-out table sessions were organised to allow residents to share their experiences, ideas and concerns about anti-social behaviour, community safety and drug harm.
Key themes identified during the break-out sessions included:
We established the Combatting Drugs Partnership in 2022 to develop a collaborative approach to deliver the city’s drugs and alcohol strategy.
The partnership includes the police, probation, adults and young people’s treatments and recovery services, and council officers from public health, housing and community safety.
The Combatting Drugs Partnership has 3 key priorities:
Some examples of the partnership’s work over the last year include:
Councillor Andrei Czolak said: “We must do everything we can to reduce harm caused by drugs and alcohol for everyone who lives in, works in, or visits Brighton & Hove.
“We’re working with Sussex Police to limit the supply of drugs into our communities. It is a difficult area and we’re exploring how we can increase the provision of our services for people experiencing harms from drug and alcohol use, and how we can help them navigate treatment and support pathways.
“We have a duty of care to support people with substance use issues. However, these problems impact everyone in the city, so it’s crucial that the wider community can contribute to our strategy.
“I’d like to thank the residents who attended the meeting for sharing their insights with us. Drug and alcohol harms affect all of us in different ways, so we must ensure that our efforts are joined up between all stakeholders, including local communities.
“I’d also like to thank Councillor Alison Thomson who was instrumental in setting up this meeting.”
Chief Superintendent, Rachel Carr said: "At the meeting, the powerful emotions and concerns shared by the residents made it clear that change is necessary.
"By continuing to collaborate with the local authority, partner agencies and the community, we will work together to address these challenges and strive towards improving the quality of life for those in the Brunswick & Adelaide and Regency wards.
"The community plays a crucial role in driving change and we thank everyone who has already reported concerns, as these contributions are invaluable in helping us understand where and how to best allocate our resources.
"We encourage ongoing reporting to help us address issues effectively and make a meaningful impact in your wards."
Concerns can be reported online, or by calling 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency.