Protesters march on police station

The protest was called by campaign group, Titnore Emergency Action (TEA). Since May last year, a group of environmental activists has been camped out in the ancient woodland off Titnore Lane, trying to protect the area from an 875-home housing development, a new Tesco store and access roads. And for much of that time, supporters have been receiving donations for the camp from the public at regular stalls in Montague Place, Worthing.

A spokesman for the group said: "While these caused no problems for anyone for more than six months, in the run-up to Christmas, police suddenly started threatening the volunteers with arrest for 'unauthorised' collecting."

A spokeswoman for Suusex Police said: "Worthing Police have responded to a number of complaints from local residents and visitors to the town in relation to the numbers of persons 'gathering' in the streets of Worthing. This was a particular problem on the approach to Christmas where the number of shoppers was at a high and complaints to the police centred around people's inability to move freely around the town and the sense of being 'closed in' whilst being in the town.

"There were a number of Worthing residents who felt that this contributed to an overall increases in their fear of crime. The police response was to utilise powers under section five of the Police Factories Act to prevent unlawful and unauthorised street collections."

Inspector Gavin Whitehouse, of Worthing police, said: "We want residents and visitors to feel confident about visiting Worthing town centre. On the run up to Christmas and in response to a number of complaints, we utilised powers available to us to reduce the number of unauthorised street collections, thereby improving free passage around the town and increasing the sense of safety for everyone."

He added: "These powers were used in respect of all street collections and no single group was targeted by the police."

See the February 21 edition of the West Sussex Gazette.