Three-month wait for police shoplifiting tribunal (From The Argus)

Three-month wait for police shoplifting tribunal

5:15pm Sunday 22nd February 2009 in News By Ben Parsons, Crime Reporter

The future of a senior police officer suspended over shoplifting allegations will not be decided for another three months.

Chief Inspector Sharon Rowe was Sussex Police’s district commander at Worthing when she was arrested in September last year on suspicion of theft.

After a preliminary disciplinary hearing on Wednesday, police confirmed the date for a full tribunal had been set for early May.

She is expected to be represented by the Police Federation, which acts as the officers union.

Ch Insp Rowe was questioned over allegedly stealing wine with a colleague, Detective Chief Inspector Jim Torbet.

The pair were arrested at Marks and Spencer in the Holmbush Centre at Shoreham.

They were both suspended from their duties while an investigation was carried out by Sussex Police CID.

DCI Torbet hanged himself at his Peacehaven home on October 30.

An inquest into his death is expected to take place later this year.

His family has criticised the way the investigation was handled, saying it put him under unnecessary strain.

The Crown Prosecution Service decided in November not to bring any charges against Chief Insp Rowe, despite saying there was sufficient evidence to prosecute her.

A spokesman said: “The prosecutor concluded that other public interest factors clearly outweighed those tending towards a prosecution.

"Those factors included the likely sentence in the event of a conviction, the suspect’s good character and long record of public service and the recent and untimely death of the close friend whom she was with at the time of the alleged offence.”