A police officer, PC Lochlan Bashford, 23, stationed at Brighton Police Station, has been dismissed from duty after a disciplinary hearing found him guilty of acting inappropriately towards his female colleagues. The hearing, held at Sussex Police headquarters, was overseen by a panel led by an Independent Legally Qualified Chair (LQC), who ensures transparency and proportionality during misconduct hearings.
Over the course of three days, starting from November 13, the hearing heard evidence that PC Bashford had engaged in sexualised behaviour and made inappropriate comments towards his female colleagues on multiple occasions, both while on duty and outside of work. During the investigation, PC Bashford was assigned to restricted duties.
Robeson further highlighted the force’s dedication to cultural change, aiming to challenge, report, and address unethical or unprofessional behaviour. Creating an environment where colleagues feel confident in reporting such behaviour is essential to ensuring a workplace free from criminal behaviour, misconduct, and misogyny.
[block_2]“The actions of this officer in this case fell far short of the standards we expect,” Robeson concluded, reflecting the panel’s findings.
