PC Perry Lathwood Found Guilty Following One-Day Trial
PC Perry Lathwood of the Roads and Transport Policing Command faced a swift one-day trial at the City of London Magistrates’ Court. The verdict was handed down at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 17 May.
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist Reacts
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist branded the verdict “a huge setback” to rebuilding public trust in the Met Police. He said:
“This verdict is a huge setback to our ability to rebuild trust with Londoners. We will learn the lessons from this and we apologise to the victim and the wider community who were deeply affected.
“Anyone who has seen the footage of this incident will be upset by how it escalated into a traumatic situation for a mother and her child.
“Despite today’s conviction, we will continue to support the officer and our workforce to ensure confidence in making arrests when justified.
“The Met will also look carefully at the court’s decision and its impact on policing. We do not intend to hold an accelerated misconduct hearing for PC Lathwood at this stage pending any appeal.”
Fare Evasion Operations Suspended
The Met revealed it has halted involvement with Transport for London’s fare evasion operations, citing the risky nature of these confrontations. However, police will maintain their presence across the bus network to tackle violent crime.
Assistant Commissioner Twist added:
“The Met continues working with communities to transform its culture, prioritising empathy, integrity, respect, courage, and accountability across the force.”
Upcoming Sentencing
Sentencing for PC Perry Lathwood is scheduled for 14 June. The case has sparked a serious debate on police conduct during fare evasion checks and their approach to public interactions.
