The key facts
- Stuart Sterling, the first head of the Ethics and Integrity Commission, has been suspended pending a review
- The Sunday Times reported a 2003 proceeding at Northamptonshire Police and a sanction — a fine of two weeks' salary
- Sterling denies the 2008 episode; the Cabinet Office will check whether proper disclosures were made during his appointment
Ethics watchdog head suspended after reports of past investigations
The head of Britain's main public ethics body — the Ethics and Integrity Commission — Stuart Sterling has been suspended from his duties after it emerged that investigations had been carried out into allegations of sexual harassment of female colleagues at his previous job; in one case, he was reportedly sanctioned. The Sunday Times was the first to report the existence of the allegations and inquiries. After publication, a government spokesperson said: 'These are serious allegations. Stuart Sterling has been suspended from his role while we swiftly establish the facts.'
What is known about the past episodes
According to the Sunday Times, in 2003, when Sterling was a junior officer with Northamptonshire Police, his case was heard by a 'full disciplinary panel' in a matter classified as sexual harassment: he was accused of non-consensually touching a female colleague's breast at a police station, and a male colleague, allegedly a witness, reported it to management. Sterling was suspended on full pay. His representative confirmed that a full disciplinary hearing took place over the 2002 complaint, with which Sterling 'fully cooperated' and which ended in a sanction. The newspaper reported that the punishment was a monetary fine of two weeks' salary — according to its data, the maximum possible without forced resignation; afterwards, Sterling received two police commendations and was promoted to detective sergeant. According to the Sunday Times, by 2008 another complaint was made against him — this time about inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague at an informal gathering outside work. Sterling's representative said he denies that any such 2008 episode took place at all: no criminal investigation was conducted, but the complaint was considered by professional standards; he 'left voluntarily' from the force, rather than under pressure to resign.
Career after the police and vetting at appointment
In 2009 Sterling moved to the Cabinet Office; what vetting procedure was carried out at that time is unknown. He subsequently held a number of senior posts, was seconded to the National Police Chiefs' Council in 2019, and in 2023 received an OBE for his help in organising Queen Elizabeth's funeral. Labour promised to create the Ethics and Integrity Commission in its 2024 manifesto to 'ensure integrity in government' — in response to scandals of the Covid pandemic period; Sterling became its first head in October 2025, and his duties included advising the Prime Minister on tackling misconduct in public life. It has emerged that the Cabinet Office will now check whether proper and correct disclosures were made during his appointment.
Image source, Ethics and Integrity Commission Stuart Sterling was appointed chief executive of the Ethics and Integrity Commission last year
