Essex Police officer in court on assault charges

An Essex Police officer is due to make his first appearance in court, as a result of an Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation.

PC Andrew Watt, 51, based at Clacton-on-Sea station, will appear at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on 13 June charged with two counts of assault by beating.

The charges relate to an incident in December 2023 when a woman was arrested in Clacton-on-Sea.

While in custody in Colchester she was allegedly twice pushed in a police cell by the officer. The woman sustained a head injury and was taken to hospital for treatment.

On conclusion of our investigation in May, we sent a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service which authorised the charge.