UK ethics watchdog chief suspended over groping allegations in Northamptonshire Police
Stuart Sterling, head of the Ethics and Integrity Commission, has stepped back from his role amid a civil service inquiry into past sexual misconduct allegations.
Head of government ethics body steps back amid historic sexual misconduct claims
Stuart Sterling, the chief executive of the government's Ethics and Integrity Commission (EIC), has stepped back from his post while a civil service inquiry examines allegations of sexual misconduct during his earlier career in Northamptonshire Police, The Independent reports.
The 48-year-old leads the EIC, the body that promotes "the highest standards in public life" and advises the prime minister and public authorities on ethical standards. A Cabinet Office spokesman confirmed the development: "These are serious allegations. Stuart Sterling has stepped back from his role whilst we swiftly establish the facts."
According to a report first published by The Sunday Times, Sterling was suspended from his position as detective constable in Northamptonshire Police in 2003 following an allegation that he had approached a female colleague from behind after she removed her stabproof vest and placed both hands on her breasts. The incident reportedly occurred in 2002, when Sterling was 24. A male colleague raised the matter with superiors the same day.
Criminal proceedings were considered but ultimately dropped. In March 2003, Sterling was fined two weeks' pay — an outcome described at the time as a "wholly exceptional outcome, appropriate to the circumstances". He was subsequently moved to a different police station, later promoted to detective sergeant, and received two commendations during his continued service.
A second allegation emerged in 2006, reportedly arising in a social setting after a police shift. Sterling denies that incident ever took place. The Northamptonshire Police anti-corruption unit later began examining the original 2002 investigation and the decision that had allowed Sterling to remain in the force. He left the police before the process concluded, joining the Cabinet Office as a civil servant in December 2009.
Sterling's representative told The Times that he had complied fully with the disciplinary process over the 2002 complaint and accepted the resulting sanction. "He denies that the alleged incident in 2008 ever took place," the statement added. "He was never subject to any criminal investigation, but the allegation was examined by professional standards. He was not required to resign from the force. He left voluntarily. He is not aware of any anti-corruption investigation ever taking place."
Sterling himself has stated he "left voluntarily" but has not confirmed whether he was under investigation at the time of his departure.
Since joining the civil service, he has held multiple roles across the Cabinet Office, Home Office and Foreign Office, and was seconded to the National Police Chiefs' Council. He received an OBE in 2023 for his contribution to the state arrangements surrounding Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in 2022.
The Independent understands that the ongoing civil service inquiry into Sterling's role at the EIC will examine whether accurate and appropriate information was disclosed ahead of his appointment to the post.
A Northamptonshire Police spokesman told The Independent that the force holds "a brief digital record confirming a misconduct process in 2002", but noted that much of the supporting documentation would have been paper-based. The EIC had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.
Source: The Independent