Sussex Police officer dismissed for gross misconduct
Officer was found guilty of misusing police systems and making false allegations
Last updated 19th Dec 2025
A Sussex Police officer has been dismissed for gross misconduct following an accelerated hearing.
The officer, who has been granted anonymity and referred to as Officer X, was proven to have misused police systems to search for personal details of a member of the public known to them in the hearing on 16th December.
Officer X reportedly did this multiple times between October 2023 and February 2024 without any policing purpose.
Additionally, Officer X made false allegations to a supervisor against the same member of the public and fabricated emails using the names of serving officers, falsely claiming the individual was under investigation for harassment.
The allegations were uncovered in February 2024 when the member of the public contacted Sussex Police seeking information about the supposed investigation. Officer X was subsequently suspended from duty.
A criminal inquiry into Officer X’s actions did not yield sufficient evidence for a charge; however, gross misconduct proceedings were later brought forward.
The officer was found to have breached standards of professional behaviour relating to honesty and integrity, orders and instructions, confidentiality, and discreditable conduct.
As a result of the hearing, Officer X was dismissed without notice and placed on the College of Policing’s barred list, ensuring they are prohibited from working in policing nationwide.
Detective Superintendent Andy Wolstenholme spoke about the case, saying, “As police officers we are entrusted with access to some of the public’s most personal data, to only be accessed if absolutely necessary and with a clear policing purpose.”
“Abuse of this trust is taken extremely seriously, and officers, staff and volunteers who fail to recognise this responsibility have no place in policing,” Wolstenholme added.
“This officer’s behaviour was unacceptable and we have rightly taken definitive action to ensure they cannot serve as a police officer in Sussex or anywhere in the country.”