Sussex detective found to have breached standards of professional behaviour

A police officer has been dismissed from the force after having an allegation of breaching standards of professional behaviour proven against him.

Detective Sergeant Mark Davis, 41, based on East Sussex division, was charged with failing to stop at the scene of an accident and failing to provide a specimen under the Road Traffic Act following a single vehicle collision in Eastbourne Road, Willingdon, on 19 August 2021, while he was off duty.

He pleaded guilty to the offences when he appeared at court in January.

DS Davis was the subject of an accelerated misconduct hearing chaired by the Chief Constable at Sussex Police Headquarters, Lewes, on Monday 14 March.

An accelerated misconduct hearing is held when there is incontrovertible evidence and it is in the public interest to remove the officer from service as soon as possible, or in the case of an ex-officer, to have them placed on the barred list.

He faced an allegation of breaching standards of professional behaviour in respect of Discreditable Conduct in relation to being charged with criminal offences.

The allegation against DS Davis was found to be proven by Chief Constable Jo Shiner, with a decision that he be dismissed from the force.

CC Jo Shiner said: "We expect our officers to act with the upmost integrity, and in accordance with the force’s values, the Code of Ethics and the Standards of Professional Behaviour. The actions of this officer fell short of that, and there is no place in Sussex Police for such behaviour.”