A police officer has had an allegation of breaching standards of professional behaviour proven against him.
The officer was the subject of a four-day misconduct hearing by a panel led by an independent Legally Qualified Chair (LQC) at Sussex Police Headquarters, Lewes, which concluded on Friday 23 September.
The officer known as PC X was granted anonymity by the LQC after making legal representations before the hearing. It is the responsibility of the LQC alone to determine whether or not a hearing is partially or wholly held in public or in private and whether any participant should be anonymised. Sussex Police are directed by and must abide by rulings made by the panel chair.
He faced allegations that on 13 April 2021 he used excessive force in arresting a juvenile known as child A for a public order offence and his account in the use of force form of the incident was false.
Therefore he was alleged to have breached standards of professional behaviour in respect of honesty and integrity, use of force, duties and responsibilities and discreditable conduct.
The panel found the allegation that he used excessive force was proven and that this amounted to gross misconduct. The allegation that his account in the use of force form of the incident was false, was not proven.
He was given an extended final written warning which will last three years.
Chief Superintendent Lisa Bell from the Professional Standards Department said: “We expect our officers and staff to act with the utmost integrity, and in accordance with the Code of Ethics and the Standards of Professional Behaviour. The actions of this officer fell far short of these which is reflected in the findings by the panel.
“The unacceptable conduct that has been heard here will not be tolerated but this poor behaviour should not overshadow the hard work by the vast majority of our officers, staff and volunteers within Sussex Police.”
