Hit-and-run detective sacked after fleeing scene of accident

A hit-and-run detective has been sacked after failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

Detective Sergeant Mark Davis, 41, was off duty when he was involved in a single-vehicle crash in Willingdon, in August 2021.

The Sussex Police officer did not to stop and failed to provide a specimen for his colleagues.

He pleaded guilty to the offences and was dismissed without notice following an accelerated misconduct hearing at the force’s headquarters in Lewes on Monday.

A police spokesman said: ‘An accelerated misconduct hearing is held when there is incontrovertible evidence and it is in the public interest to remove the officer from service as soon as possible, or in the case of an ex-officer, to have them placed on the barred list.

‘He faced an allegation of breaching standards of professional behaviour in respect of discreditable conduct in relation to being charged with criminal offences.

‘The allegation against DS Davis was found to be proven by Chief Constable Jo Shiner, with a decision that he be dismissed from the force without notice.’

Chief Constable Shiner added: ‘We expect our officers to act with the upmost integrity and, in accordance with the force’s values, the Code of Ethics and the Standards of Professional Behaviour.

‘The actions of this officer fell short of that and there is no place in Sussex Police for such behaviour.’

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