New East Sussex police recruits share stories of first days in the job

Three suspects were stopped and arrested following reports of a burglary in Wealden.

The recruit constables were out with their coach on June 21 on rural crime patrol when they heard three burglary suspects had made off at speed from the Chiddingly and Horam area after the homeowner had disturbed them.

Recruit PC Alex Criddle was in a vehicle with fellow recruits Charlie Ware and James Marchant - accompanied by one of their coaches, PC Betteridge - at the start of their first night shift.

“When the description of the vehicle and suspects came in over the radio, we were actually on a directed patrol in Wealden targeting rural burglaries and drug activity,” said Alex, a former M&S retail manager.