Fatal Peacehaven Collision: Protestors March On Sussex Police HQ In Lewes

Protestors supporting the family of Arthur Hoelscher-Ermert, who died in a collision with a police car in Peacehaven, have marched to police HQ in Lewes.

Police say the incident happened on the A259 South Coast Road at Peacehaven at around 11.10pm on Saturday (30 April) when the police vehicle was in a collision with 27-year-old Arthur Hoelscher-Ermert.

Since the incident, eyewitnesses have reported seeing the unmarked police car "swerve towards" Arthur while he was in the road, and the police officer handcuff him as he lay dying on the floor.

The reports, both regionally and nationally, have prompted a public outcry, demonstrated by the large group of protestors who arrived at police HQ on Saturday, with banners and a loud speaker, chanting "justice for Arthur" as his brother, Karl, told the crowd what a "kindhearted" man he had been.

Karl had posted a message on Facebook on Saturday morning, May 7th, (shown below), from a friend's page, saying he had been banned from the platform, and asking people to join him on the march.

Karl said in an interview with Sussex News at the protest:

"It's been seven days since this incident. We have no answers. Nobody's been arrested. Nobody's been suspended. We know the facts. We've seen the videos. We've heard from witnesses. It's all out in the public domain. Why have these officers not been arrested? Why have they not been suspended?

"They are walking freely in our community and we are paying their wages. I'm expecting them to release the information they have, that is the truth: That everybody knows that this was not an accident.

"...they hit him intentionally... I haven't had a chance to grieve.... truth needs to prevail. Justice needs to prevail."

Speaking about the protest, he said:

"It just shows the support for this situation and for this community. Sussex Police need to take a serious look at themselves. There's something rotten at the core here and something needs to change."

An updated statement by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the external body leading the investigation, released on Friday (May 6) afternoon, stated that they were reviewing a large amount of body-worn camera footage:

We have now advised the driver of the unmarked police car, which Mr Hoelscher-Ermert was in collision with, that he is under criminal investigation for the offence of causing death by dangerous driving. He has not been arrested.

A criminal investigation does not necessarily mean that charges will follow. At the end of the investigation we will decide whether to refer a file to the Crown Prosecution Service to consider whether the officer should be prosecuted.

Supt James Collis said:

“This is a tragic incident and distressing for Mr Hoelscher-Ermert’s family and friends. Our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.

“This is a fast paced investigation and while there has been much speculation, it is vital that all of the facts of the case can be fully, fairly and objectively investigated by the IOPC.

“We would ask the public to allow for the investigation to take its course.”

Karl's Facebook post: 

The investigation continues.