A Sussex Police officer has been handed a final written warning after being caught plagiarising study assessments in an attempt to secure a promotion to sergeant.
The misconduct hearing, held at Sussex Police headquarters between January 29 and February 3, found that the officer, identified only as PC W, had committed gross misconduct by submitting copied work across multiple study assessments.
Extent of Plagiarism Revealed
The hearing revealed that six workbook assignments were submitted between November 2022 and June 2023, with varying levels of plagiarism:
- Plagiarised content ranged from 7% to 69%.
- Two sections of the final submission contained a staggering 97% copied work.
The panel, chaired by Surrey Police Assistant Chief Constable Peter Gardner, ruled that the officer’s actions breached the standards of professional behaviour regarding:
✔️ Honesty and integrity
✔️ Duties and responsibilities
Despite the severity of the findings, PC W avoided dismissal and was instead given a final written warning, which will remain in place for three years.
Police Statement on Integrity and Standards
Following the ruling, Detective Superintendent Andy Wolstenholme, Deputy Head of Professional Standards, issued a statement:
“We expect our officers and staff to act with honesty and integrity, and in accordance with the Code of Ethics and the Standards of Professional Behaviour.
“Supervisors set the expected standards for our staff, and by passing off work completed by someone else as their own, this officer did not meet the standard expected, which is reflected in the findings by the panel.”
Hearing and Anonymity Decision
PC W was granted anonymity after making legal representations before the hearing. The decision on whether to hold the hearing in public or anonymise participants fell under the discretion of the panel chair.
The ruling has sparked debate over accountability in police misconduct cases, with some questioning whether greater transparency should be enforced in such incidents.
Implications for Sussex Police
This case highlights the strict expectations placed on officers seeking promotion and the importance of ethical standards in law enforcement.
With the final written warning now in place, PC W’s future career progression may be impacted, particularly as the force seeks to maintain public trust and professional integrity.
The Professional Standards Department has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring all officers demonstrate the highest ethical standards in their duties.
