Metropolitan and Sussex police officers face misconduct allegations

A Metropolitan Police officer has resigned and been found guilty of gross misconduct, while a Sussex Police officer faces court charges over allegations of inappropriate conduct and breaches of Covid-19 restrictions.
A Metropolitan Police officer, PC Luke Stokes, has resigned and been found guilty of gross misconduct after allegations surfaced of him sending unsolicited sexual images via AirDrop to passengers on a C2C train. Stokes, who was part of the Met’s public order planning unit, resigned prior to a disciplinary hearing. Following his resignation, a Metropolitan Police panel concluded that his actions amounted to gross misconduct. Despite the allegations, the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to press criminal charges due to insufficient evidence to meet the legal threshold. Stokes will be added to the College of Policing’s Barred List, which prevents him from obtaining future employment in law enforcement.
In a separate incident, former constable Jason Catton of Sussex Police appeared in Westminster Magistrates’ Court facing charges of misconduct. Allegedly occurring between September 2020 and January 2021, Catton is accused of forming inappropriate relationships with female victims from cases he was involved in, encouraging breaches of coronavirus restrictions, and himself breaching these restrictions. His actions are being scrutinized as potential abuses of public trust. Catton, who is 40 and from Fareham, Hampshire, did not enter a plea and was bailed to appear at Southwark Crown Court on May 23. The proceedings against Catton are ongoing, with Sussex Police refraining from commenting on the case.