Chief Superintendent defends hotel closure

Chief Superintendent Lisa Bell – Brighton’s most senior police officer – has defended Sussex Police’s handling of a bomb hoax at The Grand Hotel and insisted that any threats in the future would be taken just as seriously.

She said that her officers would carefully assess the credibility of bomb threats and would not hesitate to shut down the city centre again if they believed there was a risk to the public.

The Grand Hotel and 260 hectares of the city centre were closed down for about 5 hours on 10 September after management at the hotel informed police of the threat and they evacuated the building.

Sussex Police are still searching for the hoaxer and Chief Superintendent Bell said a comprehensive criminal investigation was underway.