Met Police Officer Cleared of Assault Conviction on Appeal
A Metropolitan Police officer has had his criminal conviction for common assault overturned today, Friday 13 September. PC Perry Lathwood, part of the Roads and Transport Policing Command, was originally convicted in May following an incident last June in Croydon involving the arrest of a woman suspected of fare evasion on a bus.
Video Sparks Public Outcry and Divides Opinion
The arrest was captured on video and widely shared online, stirring public concern especially within black communities in Croydon and beyond. The footage sparked heated debate about the conduct of PC Lathwood during the incident.
Appeal Success at Southwark Crown Court
Today, at Southwark Crown Court, PC Lathwood’s appeal was upheld and his conviction quashed. Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe acknowledged the divisive nature of the case, saying, “I recognise that this incident has divided opinions. The impact it had, particularly on black communities in Croydon and further afield, was significant.”
Met Police Acknowledge Mistakes But Back Officer
Despite the court’s verdict, Assistant Commissioner Rolfe admitted the incident was not handled perfectly. She stressed the importance of learning from it but argued such matters should be dealt with via police misconduct proceedings rather than in courts.
“We accept this incident was not handled perfectly and there is valuable learning to be taken from it. However, we believe that could have been done through police misconduct mechanisms, not the courts.”
PC Lathwood remains on restricted duties pending the outcome of internal misconduct proceedings. The case has reignited calls for independent oversight of policing, with Rolfe adding, “Officers do not shy away from scrutiny and recognise the importance of independent oversight.”
The officer’s future now hinges on the ongoing internal misconduct investigation.
