Worthing police chief not to be charged

A SENIOR Worthing police officer will not face prosecution, despite the Crown Prosecution Service admitting that there was enough evidence to charge her with shoplifting.

By The Newsroom

Published 28th Nov 2008, 13:05 BST

Updated 8th Jun 2018, 04:00 BST

Chief Inspector Sharon Rowe (44) was allegedly caught stealing wine with a colleague from Marks and Spencer in Shoreham.

But she will not face prosecution because 'other public interest factors clearly outweighed those tending towards a prosecution'.

Ms Rowe, who is the district commander for Worthing, was arrested with Detective Chief Inspector Jim Torbert (54) in September on suspicion of shoplifting wine.

Alastair Nisbet, head of the Crown Prosecution Service Complex Casework Unit, said: "While stealing from shops is always a serious offence, and police officers are in a position of trust, prosecutors have to also decide whether it is in the public interest to proceed with a prosecution."

For full story see West Sussex Gazette December 3