Police officer jailed for sexual assault of colleague

A 26-year-old serving Metropolitan Police officer has been jailed for sexually assaulting a colleague in December 2020.

Archit Sharma was sentenced at the Wood Green Crown Court to 16-month imprisonment for sexually assaulting a female colleague while they were both on duty at the Southgate Police Station – part of the North Area Basic Command Unit in Enfield.

When the Metropolitan Police received the allegation, Sharma was suspended from duty and charged on 28 July 2021.

Following his conviction on 6 March 2023, he resigned four days later.

He was sentenced on 9 June to 16 months’ imprisonment and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years. He was also made the subject of a restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim for ten years and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £156.

At a misconduct hearing on 8 June, it was alleged that former PC Sharma had breached Standards of Professional Behaviour in relation to Authority, Respect and Courtesy, and Discreditable Conduct.

The panel found the allegations proven and had he still be serving with the Met Police, Sharma would have been dismissed.

The former officer will now be added to the Barred List held by the College of Policing. Those appearing on the list cannot be employed by police, local policing bodies (PCCs), the Independent Office for Police Conduct or Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.

Usha Shergill, Crown Advocate for CPS London’s Complex Casework Unit said: “As a police officer, Sharma was expected to adhere to the strictest standards of behaviour and professional conduct in both the workplace and public.

“The incident has made the victim feel very anxious and scared. I would like to thank the victim for bravely reporting the matter and helping us to bring Sharma to justice.

“The Crown Prosecution Service will not hesitate to prosecute serious sexual offences where there is the evidence to do so and bring offenders to justice.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Caroline Haines, responsible for local policing in Enfield and Haringey, said: “Former PC Sharma’s behaviour was abhorrent. His actions were a betrayal of our policing values.

“I hope that this outcome highlights how seriously we take reports of sexual offences, no matter who the perpetrator.

“Following his conviction, we began proceedings for an accelerated case hearing which has upheld the allegations of misconduct.”