PC Perry Lathwood, a Metropolitan Police officer, has had his conviction quashed after being fined for assault for the wrongful arrest of a woman for bus fare evasion in Croydon, south London. PC Lathwood’s appeal was upheld at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, and he was initially convicted of common assault on 17th May after a trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. The conviction related to an incident on a bus in June 2023, which was filmed by members of the public and went viral on social media, garnering significant interest.
PC Lathwood, of the Roads and Transport Policing Command, remains on restricted duties pending the outcome of a police misconduct process after the incident. The video of the incident went viral, and it outraged the public, causing significant upset and anger across social media platforms. Met Police Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe acknowledged that the incident had “divided opinions,” saying that police misconduct mechanisms should have been used to handle the matter, not the courts.
Rick Prior, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, commented that the original conviction of PC Lathwood was “erroneous and perverse.” He expressed satisfaction that “justice has been done” and said it had been his view from the outset, and that of the Metropolitan Police Federation, that PC Lathwood had done nothing wrong.
During the trial, Ms. Jocelyn Agyemang, the woman PC Lathwood arrested, told the court she felt “very violated” during the incident. She also told the court that the unpleasant incident left her with pain in her wrist and a bruised shoulder. The prosecution told the court that PC Lathwood put a hand on Ms. Agyemang, grabbed her arm, and arrested her for fare evasion when she moved away. After Ms. Agyemang and her son disembarked the bus, she was asked to show her Oyster card to confirm she had paid her fare.
In conclusion, although the courts have acquitted PC Lathwood, this incident had an enormous impact on public opinion, black communities in Croydon, and social media, leading to further discussions around police accountability and misconduct mechanisms. The Metropolitan Police Federation continues to be a necessary crutch for instances similar to this one, with reports of police misconduct becoming more frequent. In such cases, the public expects that they will always defend officers who carry out their work with integrity and that the correct mechanisms will be in place to address grievances raised by the public
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