An investigation has been launched after a woman was reportedly raped near a shopping centre, directly opposite a police station in West Sussex.
The alleged rape took place in an alleyway in Worthing in the early hours of Saturday morning, prompting house-to-house enquiries by officers attempting to establish what happened between 3am and 4am.
A spokesman for Sussex Police said detectives are carrying out extensive inquiries into the reported attack on the woman.
“Detectives are investigating a report of a rape on a woman in Worthing in the early hours of Saturday,” the spokesman said.
“Extensive inquiries are being carried out, including house-to-house inquiries in the vicinity of Chatsworth Road.”
The location of the alleged attack has raised serious questions about public safety in the area, given its proximity to law enforcement facilities.
Alleyway Between Shopping Centre and Road
The rape is reported to have taken place in the alleyway connecting Chatsworth Road and the Guildbourne Centre, a shopping complex in the heart of Worthing town centre.
“The rape is reported to have taken place in the alleyway between Chatsworth Road and the Guildbourne Centre between 3am and 4am on Saturday,” the police spokesman confirmed.
The narrow passageway is used by pedestrians as a shortcut between the shopping centre and surrounding residential areas, though it is poorly lit during nighttime hours.
The proximity of the alleged attack to a police station has shocked local residents and prompted calls for improved security measures in the town centre, including better lighting and CCTV coverage in alleyways and walkways.
Victim Receiving Support
Specially trained officers are said to be supporting the woman following the reported attack as the investigation continues.
Detective Inspector Gary Jacobs, who is leading the investigation, said officers are maintaining a visible presence in the area whilst conducting further enquiries.
“We are supporting the victim and are maintaining a presence in the area as we conduct further inquiries,” Detective Inspector Jacobs said.
He appealed for anyone with information to come forward, particularly those who may have captured relevant footage on recording devices.
“Anyone with information such as CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage in the area at the time is asked to contact us on 101 or online, quoting Op Morley,” the detective inspector added.
No Arrests Made
Descriptions of the suspect have not yet been given by police, and no arrests have been made in connection with the alleged attack.
Detectives are understood to be reviewing CCTV footage from cameras in the town centre and shopping complex to identify potential suspects or witnesses who may have been in the area during the early hours of Saturday morning.
The lack of public information about the suspect has led to concern amongst women in Worthing about their safety when travelling through the town centre during nighttime hours.
House-to-house enquiries are focusing on properties near Chatsworth Road and the Guildbourne Centre, with officers asking residents if they saw or heard anything suspicious between 3am and 4am on Saturday.
Investigators are also appealing to taxi drivers, delivery workers or anyone else who may have been in the vicinity during those hours to come forward with information.
Town Centre Safety Concerns
The alleged attack has reignited debate about safety in Worthing town centre, particularly regarding poorly lit alleyways and passageways that connect main roads with shopping areas.
Local councillors are expected to raise concerns about the incident at forthcoming meetings, with calls for improved lighting, additional CCTV cameras and increased police patrols during nighttime hours.
Women’s safety groups have long warned that alleyways and cut-throughs in town centres can become dangerous spaces during the early hours when fewer people are around.
The Guildbourne Centre is one of Worthing’s main shopping destinations, featuring numerous retail outlets, cafes and services used by thousands of residents and visitors each week.
The fact that the alleged rape occurred opposite a police station has intensified scrutiny of how such an attack could take place in such close proximity to law enforcement facilities.
Worthing is a seaside town in West Sussex with a population of approximately 110,000 residents, located along the south coast between Brighton and Chichester.
Sussex Police has urged anyone who was in the Chatsworth Road or Guildbourne Centre area between 3am and 4am on Saturday to contact them, even if they believe the information they have is insignificant.
Members of the public can report information by calling 101 or through the Sussex Police website, quoting Operation Morley when providing details.
Information can also be provided anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Image Credit:
The Guildbourne Centre in Worthing — photo by Steve Daniels, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. (commons.wikimedia.org)
