Brighton police officer who admitted harassment is dismissed from Sussex Police

PC Alexander Walsh’s behaviour was a ‘violation of the trust that the public put in the police’, according to the head of Sussex Police’s professional standards department.

A public gross misconduct hearing heard today that he has pleaded guilty to two criminal charges, a police spokesman confirmed.

The panel decided that his offending was so serious that they had no option but to dismiss him from the force.

The hearing was chaired by Chief Constable Giles York.

PC Walsh did not attend the hearing, and two counts of gross misconduct in respect of discreditable conduct were found against him in his absence.

He was dismissed from Sussex Police without notice, the force said.

PC Walsh is due to appear at Portsmouth Crown Court on October 12 for sentencing after pleading guilty to common assault and stalking without fear/alarm/distress at the same court on September 5, according to police.

Detective Superintendent Steve Boniface, head of Sussex Police’s professional standards department, said: “We expect the highest possible standards of our officers and staff and we take any report of inappropriate behaviour extremely seriously.

“This officer’s behaviour was a violation of the trust that the public put in the police to serve and protect them.

“He has let down his colleagues who carry out an enormous amount of good work with victims of serious offences every day.

“He has let down Sussex Police and the people of Sussex.

“It is rare that such misconduct matters are also linked to incidents of a criminal nature, but it is entirely right that in circumstances such as this, they should be dealt with by the courts.”