Behind the Badge: A rare glimpse inside John Street Police Station

Chief Superintendent Rachel Carr shared her stories of fighting crime in Brighton, from the day-to-day callouts to the high-stakes investigations that make headlines. One such case 8 years ago involved a shooting that initially seemed to leave no trace – until weeks later, a family returned to their home fresh from a holiday to find a bullet hole in their wall. Turns out, forensic magic (otherwise known as laser reconstruction and solid detective work) led to a conviction without the victim’s testimony – the first of its kind in the UK. 

Sergeant Peter Hayward led us deeper into the workings of John Street, showcasing police equipment, specialist departments and even the car park – otherwise known as the film set for Brighton TV show ‘Grace’ to those in show biz. While none of us ended up in the back of a police car (yet), we did get in the front, playing with the sirens and fiddling with dashboard buttons. We even tried on police gear—as our photos will confirm.

Fun facts we discovered:

• Sussex Police is ahead of the curve when it comes to gender representation, with women making up 37% of the force – one of the most proportional forces in the country.
• If you're thinking of joining, you will need to pass a bleep test - a throwback to school PE days! 

Responding to big questions about trust and accountability in policing, Anita Grant, (A)CO for Trust and Legitimacy shared her background, growing up distrustful of the police in Camden to her current work which puts her at the centre of the police decision-making process.

A stark statistic for you: Black people in Sussex are eight times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people.

Anita believes that the first step to addressing issues like this is recognising that the police is institutionally racist. The next step: the Race Action Plan - run by Anita, it’s a national initiative aimed at addressing these disparities across all forces. Recruitment and retention are also major challenges, with people of colour leaving the police force at a higher rate than their white colleagues. Anita’s role isn’t just about making the police accountable to the public—it’s also about ensuring the internal environment is safe and fair for officers from all backgrounds.

The tour wasn’t just about getting a sneak-peak into John Street Police Station – it was about understanding the realities of modern policing and having our say.

The police must be accountable to the community, but the community has a role to play, too. One way to get involved is through Independent Advisory Groups, where members of the public can review real police footage and offer external oversight. Think of it as a chance to help shape policing from the inside. It gives locals a direct say in how things are run – because, let’s be honest, we all have opinions.

Missed out and want to join in? As a Chamber member, you get exclusive access to fascinating member-only events like this one - join the Chamber today to be part of it all! 

In the meantime, maybe practise that bleep test, just in case. Another big thank you to Pete, Anita and Rachel for our fascinating tour.

If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk