Sussex Police officer acquitted of driving offence

A Sussex Police officer who was charged with causing serious injury by driving without due care and attention has been found not guilty.

PC Ben Carslake was charged by the force's Road Policing Unit with the offence, which was alleged to have occurred, while he was on duty responding to an emergency call in which his vehicle was in a collision with a car in Eastbourne on 11 December 2022.

The matter was referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct who directed that a local investigation by the Professional Standards Department should be conducted, during which the officer was restricted from driving marked police cars or responding with blue lights.

Following a two-day trial at Chichester Crown Court last month, the jury found the officer not guilty of the offence and he will now return to full duties.