Sussex Police officer charged with assault

A Sussex Police officer is due in court accused of assaulting a child, following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

PC Benedict Statton, aged 43, is set to face a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 16 June.

The charge relates to an incident where force was used during the arrest of a 16-year-old girl in Crawley.

Our investigation began in June 2024 and concluded in September 2025, after which we sent a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). It requested we complete some further investigatory steps before authorising the charge in May.