A WATCHDOG believes a staff member at Brighton Police Station may have committed a criminal offence after lost property including cash went missing.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been investigating the staff member over alleged theft after someone handed in a large amount of cash earlier this year.

Prosecutors have been handed the IOPC's file of evidence following its investigation.

The IOPC's website states that evidence is only handed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in cases where it thinks a police officer or member of staff may have committed a criminal offence.

The CPS will now decide whether to prosecute the staff member.

An IOPC spokesman said: "In May 2021 we concluded our investigation into a member of Sussex Police staff who was under criminal investigation over alleged thefts.

“We referred a file of evidence to the CPS for their consideration of whether criminal offences may have been committed.

"It does not necessarily mean that criminal charges will follow."