Bid to allay Rox security fears

The cop shop on wheels is being considered by Inspector John Merrick as a way of providing policing cover to the music and arts event.

Hopes are high that Rox will return to its traditional promenade home after six years away to form the first weekend on July 21 and 22 of this year's Bognor music festival.

But health and safety concerns to ensure the large crowd which could attend the free occasion still mean the final details have yet to be worked out.

Inspector Merrick, talking to Bognor Regis Civic Society last week, said the police were actively involved in the discussions about enabling music lovers to enjoy Rox in safety.

The talks included the possibility of bringing policing to the people there.

'For Rox, having a mobile police station on the front could be answer,' he said. 'People could go there as a point of contact.'

He was responding to concerns from Aldwick resident Paul Bignall about Bognor's police station in London Road being closed during major crowd-pulling events on Sundays.

'When Rox comes back on the promenade, you could have 30,000 to 40,000 people in the town,' stated Mr Bignall.

He particularly wanted to see access to police officers being available on Birdman weekends.

'I find it very difficult to understand that when there's an international event in Bognor, and thousands of extra people are in the town, the police station is closed. There could be incidents going on all over the place but it is just not possible to get in touch with the police station except by going through the call centre in Lewes.'