Wait. Stop for a second. If you’re checking the headlines for brighton police news today, you’ve likely seen the sirens or heard the chatter about the Nepean Highway. It’s heavy. Honestly, there’s no easy way to say it, but a man lost his life late last night in Brighton East, and the fallout is still unfolding right now as we hit the middle of January 2026.
People are asking what happened. Why was the road blocked? Who was involved?
Basically, around 10:10 PM on Thursday, January 15, a cyclist and a car collided. It happened on that stretch of the Nepean Highway that everyone knows is a bit of a nightmare during late-night hours. Emergency crews rushed there, they did everything they could, but they couldn't save him.
The driver, a woman, didn't flee. She stopped. She's talking to the police. But for the rest of us, it’s a grim reminder that even in a place like Brighton, things can go south in a heartbeat.
The Nepean Highway Investigation: What We Know Right Now
Victoria Police haven't officially named the victim yet. That usually takes a bit of time for the coroner and for family notifications, so if you're looking for a name, you won't find it in the official brighton police news today bulletins just yet.
What we do know is that the Major Collision Investigation Unit is all over this. They’ve been out there with the tape and the cameras, trying to piece together the physics of the crash.
Was it speed? Was it lighting? Did someone miss a signal?
Detectives are specifically asking for anyone with dashcam footage to come forward. If you were driving toward the city or down toward Moorabbin around 10:00 PM last night, check your cameras. Seriously. That little bit of digital memory could be the only thing that explains what happened to that man.
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Why This Stretch of Brighton East is a Problem
Let’s be real for a minute. The Nepean Highway is a beast. It’s got these long, wide stretches that feel like a racetrack at night, but then you’ve got cyclists, pedestrians, and turn-offs that sneak up on you.
- The speed limit is 80km/h in many spots.
- Visibility can be patchy under certain streetlights.
- Late-night traffic is often sparse, which leads to a false sense of security.
It’s a recipe for disaster if even one person loses focus for a second. And sadly, that’s exactly what seems to have happened here.
Fraud and Cameras: The Case of Peter De Silvo
Shifting gears to something that’s been brewing for a while but hit a major milestone in court today—we need to talk about Sussex Police.
Now, if you're in the UK side of Brighton, your brighton police news today is dominated by the court appearance of PC Peter De Silvo. This isn't your standard "cop makes a mistake" story. This is deep.
De Silvo, who’s 48 and from Worthing, stood in front of a judge at Staines Magistrates' Court today, Friday, January 16. The charges? Stalking, fraud, and computer misuse.
The allegations are kinda terrifying if you think about it. The prosecution claims he used actual police equipment—we’re talking ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras—to stalk a woman he knew. He allegedly did this for two years.
Imagine that. The tools designed to catch criminals being used to track someone's every move.
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Breaking Down the Charges Against PC De Silvo
Honestly, the list of charges is long. He’s facing:
- One count of stalking.
- One count of fraud by false representation.
- Two counts of computer misuse.
- Five charges under the Data Protection Act.
He didn't enter a plea today. He just confirmed his name and address, wearing a black raincoat, looking pretty much like anyone else on the street. But the case is moving to Guildford Crown Court on February 16. Sussex Police have already said they’ll look at misconduct proceedings once the criminal side is done, but for now, he’s out on bail with a strict "no contact" condition.
It’s a massive blow to public trust. People expect the police to protect them, not use high-tech surveillance to follow them home.
Elsewhere: Drugs, Cannabis, and Shoplifting
If you think Brighton is just about these big tragic or scandalous events, you’ve clearly never looked at the daily arrest logs. It’s been a busy week for the local units.
In Portslade, two men were recently charged after police stumbled upon cannabis factories. These weren't just a couple of plants in a closet; we’re talking organized setups. One guy is still on bail while they dig deeper into who else was involved.
Then you’ve got the shoplifting. Sussex Police finally caught up with Arron Jones, a guy they’re calling a "prolific shoplifter." He admitted to 15 different offences across West Sussex. He’s now banned from stores under a Criminal Behaviour Order.
It sounds minor compared to a fatal crash or a stalking cop, but for local business owners, this is the brighton police news today that actually matters to their bottom line.
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What You Should Actually Do Now
Look, when news like this breaks, it’s easy to just scroll past and forget it. But there are actual steps you can take if you’re involved or just live in the area.
For the Nepean Highway Crash:
If you saw anything—literally anything—between 10:00 PM and 10:30 PM last night near Brighton East, call Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000. Don't assume someone else already called. Your perspective might be the one that completes the puzzle.
For Public Safety Concerns:
If you're worried about the behavior of an officer or feel like surveillance tools are being misused, there are independent bodies like the IOPC (Independent Office for Police Conduct) in the UK. Don't just sit on your hands if something feels wrong.
For Road Safety:
Check your lights. If you’re a cyclist, get those high-vis vests and extra-bright LEDs. It’s not about whose fault it is; it’s about staying alive on roads that weren't necessarily built with bikes in mind.
Keeping an Eye on the Courts
The next few weeks are going to be busy. We have the De Silvo case moving to Crown Court in February. We have the ongoing investigation into the identity of the man killed on the Nepean Highway. And we have the constant, quiet work of detectives trying to shut down the drug pipelines running through the city.
Stay alert. The headlines tell one story, but the real impact is felt by the families waiting for a phone call that never comes or the people wondering if they can really trust the person in uniform.
The best way to stay safe is to be aware of what’s happening in your immediate vicinity. Check local police social media feeds—they often post about road closures or missing persons hours before the news outlets pick them up.
If you are a witness to any of the events mentioned in brighton police news today, ensure your statement is recorded officially. Memory fades fast, so write down what you saw while it's still fresh in your mind.
Practical Next Steps
- Verify your dashcam settings: Ensure your date and time stamps are accurate. If you were on the Nepean Highway last night, save that footage to a cloud drive before it gets overwritten.
- Report suspicious activity: If you notice unusual foot traffic at a residential property that suggests a cannabis grow-op (like covered windows and a constant hum of fans), use the non-emergency police lines to report it.
- Check for road closures: Before heading out tonight, check local traffic apps. Major accident investigations can keep lanes closed for 24 hours or more while forensic teams work.