The data comes from a Safer Arun Partnership survey as council leader Shaun Gunner reveals that "crime is going up"
Drugs, burglary and speeding are some of the top issues that Arun residents worry about the most, a survey pioneered by the Safer Arun Partnership has revealed.
The report saw more than 350 residents claim they had been a victim of crime in the last year, with some even reported seeing drugs being dealt and used openly in the district. Another issue at the top of local concerns included "youth anti-social behaviour", prompting the securing of funding for youth outreach sessions in both Littlehampton and Bognor Regis.
Council leader Shaun Gunner described the results as "worrying" as he admitted that "crime is going up."
"In Bognor Regis, you are three times more likely to experience crime than if you lived in Burgess Hill," Gunner shared.
"Not only do we have a higher crime rate than other parts of the county, but also our residents are substantially more concerned about crime than the actual reality they are experiencing.
"This is a real concern because we want people to be living in happy and safe neighbourhoods and we don't want them to feel like they're at risk of crime."
The findings have also seen a 'Joint Action Group' reinstated, with the goal of both identifying and tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.
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