A video posted on TikTok has sparked an investigation into a Sussex Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) who was filmed refusing to respond to an alleged assault in a supermarket. The footage shows a man reporting a fight in the Co-op store in Lancing to the PCSO, who dismissively responds, “I’m not a response unit.” Sussex Police has initiated an investigation in response to the incident.

In the video, the man explains to the PCSO that members of the public were trying to apprehend a shoplifter, emphasising the urgency of the situation. He expresses frustration, saying, “People have called the police and you’re sitting here.” The officer’s response further exacerbates the situation as he reiterates that he is not part of a response unit and that his presence is meant to handle other matters.

Acknowledging the public’s concern, Sussex Police released a statement confirming their awareness of the video and the incident. They clarified that a police officer was dispatched to the scene on an emergency basis, and subsequently, the PCSO also arrived at the location. Superintendent Nick Dias expressed regret for the PCSO’s use of “clumsy language” during the exchange and emphasized that a police unit was dispatched as a matter of priority. The response to this incident is currently under review.

Katy Bourne, the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, expressed disappointment and concern over the video, which she received from a member of the public. Bourne promptly shared the footage with the Chief Constable, who referred the incident to the professional standards department for investigation. She emphasised that such a response was not in line with expectations, and the public deserves better.

PCSOs were introduced in 2002 to provide support to police neighborhood policing teams. While they lack the powers of arrest and cannot undertake certain high-risk tasks, they may employ reasonable force to prevent a person from fleeing while awaiting a constable or accompanying them to a police station.