Conviction of Metropolitan Police officer overturned for assaulting woman wrongly suspected of not paying bus fare | UK news

The conviction of a Metropolitan Police officer has been overturned after he wrongfully arrested a woman for failing to pay a bus fare and was fined for assault.

PC Perry Lathwood, 50, from East Sussex, was convicted of attacking a woman in front of her young son in Croydon, south London, on July 21 last year.

Jocelyn Agyemang was taking her son to her mother's house when the incident occurred.

Police officers assisted the ticket inspectors and after Ms Agyemang got off the bus, she was asked to show that she had paid for her fare.

Ms Agyemang said she told the inspector to leave with her as she was in a hurry and Lathwood then came over and grabbed her to stop her.

A video of the incident was widely shared on social media at the time.

Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe said: “I know this incident has divided opinion. The impact it has had has been significant, particularly on the black communities in Croydon and beyond.”

“However, PC Lathwood has since been acquitted by the criminal courts and that decision must be respected.

“We accept that this incident was not handled perfectly and that valuable lessons can be learned from it. However, we believe this could have been achieved through police misconduct resolution mechanisms rather than the courts.”

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