Metropolitan Police officer Pc Perry Lathwood, who was previously convicted of common assault for wrongly arresting a woman on a bus in Croydon in June 2023, has had his conviction quashed. Lathwood, part of the Road Traffic Policing Command, had been fined £1,500 following his conviction at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in May, where it was alleged he grabbed the woman by the arm, causing bruising.
However, Lathwood appealed the conviction, and on Friday, Southwark Crown Court overturned the ruling. The incident, which had drawn significant public attention after a video of the arrest was shared online, was scrutinized throughout the legal proceedings.
Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe acknowledged the divided opinions surrounding Pc Perry Lathwood’s case, especially the significant impact it had on black communities in Croydon and beyond. While respecting the criminal court’s decision to quash Lathwood’s conviction, she admitted that the situation was not handled perfectly and emphasized the importance of learning from the incident.
Rolfe suggested that the matter could have been addressed through police misconduct mechanisms rather than the courts. She affirmed that officers accept scrutiny and recognize the value of independent oversight, but stressed the need for a police accountability system that officers can trust—one that acknowledges the difficult, fast decisions officers must make under pressure.
Despite his cleared conviction, Lathwood remains on restricted duties while the misconduct process continues. Deputy Senior District Judge Tan Ikram, who initially sentenced Lathwood, commented that while the officer “crossed the line and got it wrong,” it was due to a momentary error of judgment, not bad faith.
GET MORE NEWS ON LIFESTYLEROOM.NET
Leave a Reply