Officers sealed off part of the Beacon shopping centre in Eastbourne on Saturday afternoon after an altercation involving a group of young men left shoppers shaken and prompted a police investigation.
What happened
Sussex Police were called to the centre at around 3.10pm on Saturday 1 August. Part of the building was cordoned off with police tape and guarded by officers while enquiries were carried out amid a busy shopping period.
An 18-year-old man sustained a minor cut to his hand. Police said initial enquiries suggested the injury was not caused during the altercation. Officers also reported that a knife was seen at the scene, although it had not been located at the time of the statement.
"Officers responded to an altercation between a group of young men at the Beacon shopping centre in Eastbourne at around 3.10pm on Saturday 1 August. An 18-year-old man sustained a minor injury, a cut to his hand. Enquiries suggest that this injury was not caused as a result of the altercation. A knife was seen but has not been located. Officers are conducting enquiries near the location and are seeking relevant CCTV footage. Anyone who witnessed what happened, or who has footage that can assist the investigation, is asked to contact police online or by calling 101, quoting serial 877 of 01/08."
Ongoing enquiries and how to help
Officers are trawling CCTV and speaking to witnesses in the area. Anyone who saw the incident or who may have captured it on their phone is asked to come forward. The police have asked people to contact them online or by calling 101, quoting reference serial 877 of 01/08.
- Time of call: around 3.10pm on Saturday 1 August
- Location: Beacon shopping centre, Eastbourne
- Reported injury: minor cut to an 18-year-old man's hand
- Weapon: a knife was reportedly seen but not recovered
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Police response | Officers attended and cordoned part of the centre |
| Current status | Enquiries ongoing; CCTV being reviewed |
Locally, the Beacon is a busy town-centre hub and any incident there draws immediate attention. Shoppers reported a visible police presence while the cordon remained in place. There were no reports of wider disruption to businesses within the centre beyond the restricted area.
This remains an active investigation. Anyone with information that could assist should follow the force's guidance and contact Sussex Police promptly, quoting the incident reference.
