Police officers are facing disciplinary action after complaints of bullying and using excessive force on a prisoner.

The number of complaints against Sussex Police has risen by 10% year on year, with the equivalent of one complaint for every five officers.

The force maintains the rise has been caused by an increase in repeat complaints by the same people and a change in the way complaints are recorded.

Papers before Sussex Police Authority - the panel of councillors and independent people which oversees the force - reveal senior officers are to hold a misconduct hearing over a complaint about excessive force being used on one suspect.

Another hearing will look into allegations of bullying by officers on a member of the public.

In a separate case an officer has faced “management action” for making “inappropriate” comments on a website.