Former Sussex Police sergeant barred from policing after lying during investigation
Martin Coughlan would have been sacked had he not already resigned
A former Sussex Police officer has been told he would have been sacked without notice for breaching professional standards.
Ex-Police Sergeant Martin Coughlan, who was based on the East Sussex Division, faced an accelerated misconduct hearing on Wednesday 2nd September.
He has now been placed on the College of Policing's barred list, meaning he can never work in policing again.
What happened
In February 2025, Coughlan was arrested as part of a criminal investigation, which later concluded with no further action taken.
During the investigation, he claimed he did not have access to a vehicle.
This was proven to be a lie.
He was also found to have breached his own bail conditions, and to have allowed another person to breach theirs.
Coughlan was accused of falsely claiming dependent's leave, but this was not proven.
He was suspended from duty in June 2025, and resigned from the force on 24th October 2025.
The hearing
Misconduct proceedings were pursued once the criminal investigation had concluded.
Following the accelerated misconduct hearing, he was found to have breached the professional standards of behaviour in relation to honesty and integrity, and discreditable conduct.
He was told he would have been dismissed had he not already resigned.
What the force said
Chief Superintendent Miles Ockwell said: "Police officers under criminal investigation are bound by the same laws as any other member of the public, which includes adherence to bail conditions.
"As an officer, they have a further duty to not help others in the breaches of those conditions. Former Sergeant Coughlan failed to uphold either of those duties.
"His behaviour does not reflect that which I expect from our officers, and what I see from the overwhelming majority of officers every day."