A police officer has been dismissed after it was found she was guilty of gross misconduct.

PC Sarah Hosking, 32, who joined Sussex Police in 2009 and was based with the response investigation team at Hastings Police Station, did not attend the hearing at Sussex Police headquarters in Lewes yesterday (July 20).

The panel heard that she had accepted two police cautions in March this year after attending for interview voluntarily on suspicion of criminal damage and a public order offence. The offences took place while she was off duty on March 17.

It was the panel's view that in accepting the cautions she also accepted that her behaviour amounted to misconduct in her position as a police officer and she was dismissed without notice.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Barry said: "Sussex Police expects the highest personal and professional standards of anyone who works for us and any allegations of behaviour that do not meet those standards are rigorously investigated.

"In accepting the cautions for the criminal offences that she had committed, PC Hosking also acknowledged that her conduct did not meet those high standards that we and the public expect.

"It is important to show that the force has the ability to fairly investigate its own staff and this highlights our determination not to allow the name of Sussex Police to be tainted, nor bring into disrepute the enormous amount of good work carried out day-to-day by thousands of hard-working and dedicated police officers and staff."