Ex-Sussex Police Officer Cleared After CPS Offers No Evidence

Criminal proceedings against a former Sussex Police officer have been dismissed after the Crown Prosecution Service chose not to pursue the case at trial.
Ex-PC Dale Hughes had been due to appear before a court on 2 February to face charges of assaulting two members of the public, being drunk and disorderly, and using threatening behaviour to commit harassment. He had pleaded not guilty to all charges. The alleged incident took place in Worthing on 2 December 2023 while Hughes was off duty. He resigned from the force in May 2024.
With the CPS offering no evidence, the case was dismissed and no conviction was recorded. Sussex Police subsequently confirmed that misconduct proceedings would also not be pursued in light of the outcome of the criminal process.
The matter had previously been referred x to the Independent Office of Police Conduct, which directed Sussex Police’s Professional Standards Department to carry out a local investigation. That investigation was conducted against a criminal threshold before the final charging decision was passed to the CPS.
Detective Chief Inspector Amy Cutting said the force would continue to investigate allegations against officers in line with the relevant legislative framework and professional standards, and that any such allegations would be handled thoroughly and proportionately.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​