PC Tom Van Der Wee, the officer publicly known for arresting Katie Price in her 2021 drink-driving case, has announced he is shutting down his personal X (formerly Twitter) account following a decision by Sussex Police to consolidate their social media activity.
The popular officer, who has built a significant public following on @PCTomVanDerWee, revealed in a post on X that the account will be closing permanently, as the force shifts to using only its official account, @sussex_police, for all public communications.
“Following a Force decision to consolidate our X accounts to just @sussex_police, my account will be closing,” Van Der Wee wrote. “Thank you to everyone for your support over the years ??.”
While stepping away from X, PC Van Der Wee assured followers he will remain active on LinkedIn and continue contributing to Sussex Police’s main communication channels.
Background and Public Profile
PC Van Der Wee rose to public attention after his involvement in the high-profile Katie Price drink-driving arrest in 2021, when the celebrity was involved in a crash near her home in Sussex. The case drew nationwide media attention and significantly raised the profile of the officers involved.
Over the years, Van Der Wee used his social media presence to engage with the public, promote road safety, and share behind-the-scenes insights into frontline policing.
Sussex Police Social Media Policy Update
The move to consolidate personal officer accounts comes as UK police forces continue to evaluate their social media strategies, aiming to streamline communication, reduce misinformation, and ensure a consistent public voice.
Sussex Police confirmed that @sussex_police will now be the primary channel for all official updates, community engagement, and crime prevention messages.
