PC's assault conviction for bus fare arrest quashed

A Metropolitan Police officer who was fined for assault after wrongly arresting a woman for bus fare evasion in Croydon, south London, has had his conviction quashed.

PC Perry Lathwood's appeal was upheld at Southwark Crown Court on Friday.

The officer was convicted of common assault on 17 May following a trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

The conviction related to an incident in June 2023 where a woman who had been travelling on a bus was arrested on suspicion of fare evasion.

A video of the incident was shared online, attracting significant public interest.

PC Lathwood, of the Roads and Transport Policing Command, remains on restricted duties pending the outcome of a police misconduct process.

Met Police Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe said she recognised that the incident had "divided opinions".

"The impact it had, particularly on black communities in Croydon and further afield, was significant," she said.

"However, PC Lathwood has now been cleared by the criminal courts and that decision must be respected."

She added: "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."

She said that the force would "continue to push for a system of police accountability that officers can have confidence in".

One, she said, which recognised their "very challenging role" and the need to make "fast decisions under pressure".

During the trial, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard that PC Lathwood "manhandled" Jocelyn Agyemang and called her a "daft cow".

Ms Agyemang told the court she felt "very violated" during the arrest and was left with pain in her wrist and a bruised shoulder.

The court heard that after she and her son disembarked the bus at about 11:00 BST on 21 July 2023, she was asked to show she had paid her fare by a bus inspector.

When she did not hand over her Oyster card, PC Lathwood became "involved", the court heard.

The prosecution told the court that PC Lathwood put a hand on Ms Agyemang and grabbed her arm and arrested her for fare evasion when she moved away.

A crowd gathered, and people filmed the officer and asked him why he had arrested her.

The court heard that PC Lathwood handcuffed Ms Agyemang and another officer took her Oyster card from her hand to check if she had paid.

She was de-arrested at the scene after the force confirmed Ms Agyemang had paid her fare.

Ms Agyemang told the court she felt "a bit degraded" by the incident, adding that it was "very scary" when PC Lathwood grabbed her.

When asked why she walked off, Ms Agyemang said: "At the time I was just thinking about getting to my mother's house."

She was also asked why she "resisted" the police when she was stopped.

"I honestly don't see it as resisting," she said.

During sentencing, Deputy Senior District Judge Tan Ikram said PC Lathwood had "crossed the line and got it wrong", but added that it was not "an abuse of power", but instead a "mistake".