Polling by the BBC suggests a hardcore minority would break the rules - Alice was one of them.

Gang leaders urged dealers to vary working hours to be less obvious in lockdown, a report reveals.

Karen Dunn
Local Democracy Reporter

A councillor on Arun District Council has announced she is to quit the Liberal Democrats to sit as an Independent, saying: "We need to put aside party politics and work together in the interest of our residents.”

Emily Seex, who was elected in 2019 and represents the River Ward, said the council needed to rethink its priorities, putting regeneration, jobs and making sure people have a roof over their heads first

Ms Seex, who is chairman of the Littlehampton Regeneration sub-committee, has called on the council to take a firmer stance on getting things done – even if that meant borrowing money.

She said: “We need to focus the council’s resources on meaningful regeneration – regeneration that creates jobs and brings wealth to support businesses.

“In order to invest in regeneration we need to be open to borrowing money for building new facilities, to achieve long-term improvement in our residents’ economic prospects."

Announcing her decision to jump ship and become independent, she added: “In order to be part of the solution to the politics, I have left the Arun Liberal Democrat group and would urge all my colleagues, of every political persuasion, to support a programme of regeneration."

Ms Seex’s decision means the council is now made up of 21 Conservatives, 18 Liberal Democrats, a total of 11 Independents, two Greens and one Labour councillor.

Sussex Police admitted there had been "missed opportunities" over Georgina Gharsallah's disappearance.

The Victorian Society releases its annual list of 10 important buildings most at risk of being lost.

Louis De Zoysa, 23, remains in hospital in a critical condition, the Met Police says.

Sarah Booker-Lewis
Local Democracy Reporter

Hundreds of parents have signed a petition calling for cheaper school uniforms.

The petition was started by former Brighton and Hove City councillor Emma Daniel to try to reduce the number higher-cost branded items parents are expected to buy for secondary school students.

Ms Daniel started the petition after her daughter’s secondary school introduced a new £30 branded skirt, in addition to branded polo shirts, jumpers and PE kit.

When she spoke with community groups, she found that uniform was more of a cost issue then coats.

One parent, whose children attend one of the city’s academies, spent £300 kitting out two boys.

Ms Daniel said families were borrowing money to pay for uniforms and found it humiliating that they were asked to approach the head teacher for help.

“Kids are losing out on other things they need in order to pay for uniforms and that is not right."

If more than 1,250 people sign it, the petition will be eligible for debate at a meeting of the full council on 22 October.

Huw Oxburgh
Local Democracy Reporter

East Sussex County Council has rejected calls to stop using a controversial weedkiller.

On Monday, lead member for transport and environment Claire Dowling confirmed the council will continue to use glyphosate-based weedkillers to control roadside vegetation.

The decision follows two petitions from local residents, calling on the council to ban the use of the herbicide in the Eastbourne, Jevington and Willingdon areas, and in Hastings.

Green Party campaigner Julia Hilton, who was the lead signatory of the Hastings petition, spoke at the meeting.

She said: “It is almost a year since the council declared a climate emergency and one aspect of that was that we support the aims and implementations of the UN’s sustainable development goals.

“[One of those] is to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems … and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

“Better verge management and banning pesticide use would be a really good start locally.”

Responding to the concerns, councillor Dowling said the council would work with its partners to find alternative methods as part of the next highways maintenance contract in 2023.

She said: “We have already, unlike a lot of local authorities out there, reduced what we do on the ground.

“We have reduced to one spray per year and I believe we are down to the weakest solution that we could possibly do.

“We do have a responsibility for maintaining our highways and gullies and I am aware that we do only look at treating where there are weeds, not blanket spraying.”

Donna-Maria Thomas was arrested after alleging pupils were being "overgraded" at her Sussex school.

Some 60 sheep have been killed as a livestock lorry overturned on the A24 near Horsham, Sussex Police said.

The lorry overturned at about 16:20 BST on Monday on the northbound carriageway at Dial Post.

A 34-year-old man from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and released on bail.

The RSPCA and Defra were informed, a Sussex Police spokesman said.

Sgt Matiu Ratana, who died after being shot, had an "infectious smile and big heart", his partner says.

A former schoolmate says "reclusive" Louis De Zoysa would "brag about being on the dark web."

Louis De Zoysa remains critically ill in hospital after the fatal shooting of Sgt Matiu Ratana.

Birmingham City reach the semi-finals of the Women's FA Cup after beating Brighton on penalties.

Zakaria El Alami was cleared when the Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence.

More tributes are paid to Sgt Matiu Ratana as police continue their investigation into his death.

Charges for health certificates could eat into plant importers' profits after Brexit takes effect.

A dramatic injury-time penalty gives Manchester United victory at Brighton and their first three points of the season in a stunning game at Amex Stadium.

Improving Crawley secure a second straight victory as they ease to victory at struggling Oldham.

Mark Davis was due to face world number four Mark Selby at the snooker tournament in Milton Keynes.