A Sussex Police officer, PC Benedict Statton, 43, has been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm after the arrest of a 16-year-old girl in Crawley.
The charge follows an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation into the use of force during the incident which took place in June 2024.
The IOPC launched an independent probe amid concerns regarding PC Statton’s conduct. Their enquiry continued until September 2025, after which evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for review.
The CPS requested further investigative work before approving charges earlier this year. PC Statton is specifically accused of assault during the arrest procedure.
PC Statton is scheduled to appear at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court on 16 June. No additional details about the arrest or the alleged assault have been released ahead of the hearing.
The IOPC stresses that PC Statton is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. As the case remains active, they have declined to comment further on the allegations.
Originally published by UKNIP.
