A Metropolitan Police officer who was accused of helping a man to steal Ray Ban sunglasses at Gatwick Airport has been cleared by a misconduct panel. 

Detective Sergeant Ana Ambros, part of the South Area Command Unit, which covers Bromley, Sutton and Croydon, was alleged to have distracted a store assistant while her then-husband stole sunglasses.

However, a misconduct panel said: “There is a total lack of evidence to support the allegation that DS Ambros was in any way party to the shoplifting offence or part of a conspiracy to undertake the same.” 

On September 8, 2021, while the officer was buying a pair of sunglasses, her then-husband stole two pairs of sunglasses from the same store at the airport.

DS Ambros was accused of deliberately distracting the sales assistant while her husband carried out this theft. 

When he was caught, her husband apologised and said that he thought he was told he could have another two pairs for free by way of a discount. 

A misconduct panel heard that DS Ambros was in shock, which is why she did not challenge her husband’s lie. 

The panel said: “She appears to have been in a state of shock. She was not thinking in the manner of a serving police officer but as an innocent victim caught up in the crossfire of her former partner's action.” 

DS Ambros was cleared of all wrongdoing.