German boy, 14, injured in street robbery

The annual influx of foreign language students has started abnormally early this year.

Though Operation Columbus, the annual police operation to support them, was not due to start until April 1, measures have been put in place ahead of schedule, says Sergeant Trish Reeve-Fowkes who heads the operation in Bexhill.

"Sadly, we have already had the first assault.

"Between 9pm and 9.15pm on Sunday a German student was approached in Sackville Road by three English males. They threatened him with a knife and demanded money.

"They cut his head with the knife, causing a three to four inch cut from his eyebrow to his hair-line.

"Fortunately, it was not deep and did not bleed and he didn't need hospital treatment but he was very lucky it was not more serious.

"The youths made off with 20.

"Police would ask that anyone who was in the area at that time and who saw anything to contact the Operation Columbus unit at Bexhill police station on 0845 6070999. Technically, Operation Columbus was not due to start until April 1 but there is such an influx of students this year from Germany that Bexhill police are requesting the help of the public.

"If any member of the public sees a student being intimidated or harassed can they please contact us immediately."

Inspector Max Mosley said: "We have a lot of scheduled Operation Columbus patrols which are 'ring-fenced' - officers who cannot have anything else as a priority other than protecting and reassuring our visitors."

Sue Seymour, who locally heads Europartner the language school specialising in bringing German students into the area, told the Observer only weeks ago that Bexhill was heading for a boom year and stressed the important to the town economy of overseas students.

Europartner is expecting up to 1,000 German students on two-week courses through the season and another 1,000 on four-day courses.

Bexhill is popular with German student leaders because of its excellent safety record as a result of the close working relationship with BOSAC - Bexhill Overseas Student Association - and the police.