Two Sussex Police Officers Charged With Assault
Two Sussex Police officers will appear in court next week following charges of assault causing actual bodily harm.
Officers to appear at Sevenoaks court
Two Sussex Police officers have been charged with assault causing actual bodily harm following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
PC Richard Harris, aged 36, and PC Lorenzo Fenu, aged 28, are scheduled to appear at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 10 November. They face a joint charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The IOPC said the charge relates to an incident on Thursday 16 April 2026 when the officers allegedly used unlawful force on a man who had been detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act, injuring him.
Investigation and charges
The IOPC began its investigation following a mandatory referral from Sussex Police. The investigation concluded in September 2026, after which the IOPC referred a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The CPS subsequently authorised the charges.
The case comes as part of ongoing scrutiny of police conduct, with the IOPC examining allegations of excessive force during the detention of vulnerable individuals.
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