Met Police officer dismissed for gross misconduct after touching woman

An Acting Sergeant with the Metropolitan Police has been dismissed without notice for gross misconduct after being found to have inappropriately touched a woman while off-duty. The decision followed a hearing on Friday, 4 September.

The misconduct panel determined that Acting Sergeant Rachel Bright, attached to the South West Command Unit, had demonstrated inappropriate behaviour towards a woman known to her. This occurred at a bar in Clapham Junction in December 2022, where the officer repeatedly touched the woman in an unsolicited manner.

Criminal Trial and Misconduct Investigation

An investigation was launched, and Acting Sgt Bright was suspended from duty in December 2023 after facing a charge of sexual assault. However, in October 2024, she was found not guilty of this charge at Kingston Crown Court.

The Metropolitan Police's Directorate of Professional Standards conducted a separate misconduct investigation. This investigation concluded that Acting Sgt Bright should face a misconduct hearing, where the allegations were found to be proven.

Chief Superintendent Dan Knowles, responsible for policing in South West London, stated that Acting Sgt Bright's actions were "wholly unacceptable and fell far short of the standards expected of police officers." He added, "Anyone who fails to uphold our standards should expect to be held accountable."

As a consequence of the gross misconduct finding, Acting Sgt Bright will be placed on the College of Policing Barred List. This prevents her from working in policing in the future.