Two Sussex Police officers charged with assault

Two Sussex Police officers will appear in court to face charges of assault by beating following an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation.

The charges relate to an incident on Cross Levels Way, Eastbourne, on Tuesday 19 May. It is alleged that PC Deborah Sands PAVA sprayed a 14-year-old girl and PC Kris Green struck the minor in the head when attempting to apply a spit guard on her while she was handcuffed inside a police vehicle. The minor had been arrested for suspected arson on a garage and the alleged assault of the police officers during the arrest.

Our investigation followed a referral from Sussex Police in July 2020, after the force reviewed the BWV of the incident.

We completed our investigation in November and passed a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which authorised the assault charge contrary to Section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

PC Sands aged 46, and PC Green aged 35, are due to appear at Brighton Magistrates Court on Thursday 10 December.