Met Police Officer Charged Over Bus Fare Row Arrest
Officer Faces Assault Charges After Woman Wrongly Arrested
A Metropolitan Police officer is in hot water after allegedly assaulting a woman who was mistakenly arrested for dodging a bus fare — with her young son watching. PC Perry Lathwood, 49, from the Met’s Road Traffic Policing Command, is set to face court next month over the shocking incident in Croydon.
Woman Injured During Arrest, Later Cleared
The drama unfolded on July 21 last year on Whitehorse Road. The woman suffered bruises on her arm during the arrest. Later, it emerged she had paid the bus fare after all, and she was quickly released.
Incident Sparks Outcry as Video Goes Viral
A video of the arrest spread like wildfire on social media, causing public uproar. The arrest happened during a ‘revenue protection operation’ run by the Roads and Transport Policing Command alongside Transport for London.
Investigation and Police Reaction
- The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) probed the case and wrapped up its inquiry in December.
- Following their findings, PC Lathwood was charged and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on February 14.
- Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain, overseeing Croydon policing, voiced serious concerns about an officer being charged with assault.
- He stressed the need for officers to justify their use of force and revealed the Met had urgently contacted the IOPC for clarification on the charge.
This case adds fuel to ongoing debates about police conduct and accountability in London.
