Met officer charged with assault over Croydon fare evasion incident
A Met officer has been charged with assault following an investigation into the arrest of a woman in front of her child, after wrongly being accused of fare evasion.
PC Perry Lathwood, 49, of the Road Traffic Policing Command, will appear at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court on February 14, 2024, to face one charge of assault by beating during the incident, which took place on July 21, in Whitehorse Road, Croydon.
The charge comes in relation to bruising injuries caused to the woman’s arm during the incident.
An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) concluded in December. The police watchdog passed a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorised charges against the officer.
A spokesman for the IOPC said: “We began our investigation in the days following the incident.
“All parties involved have been notified of the charging decision.”
A video, filmed during the incident, shows the woman’s young son in tears as his mum is handcuffed by police.
The IOPC received a “complaint referral” from the Met on July 24. The complaint, which was made by a family member on the woman’s behalf, alleged that she was racially profiled and was verbally abused by an officer.
In August, the IOPC confirmed it had opened an investigation into the incident.
The Met said the woman involved in this incident was asked to show her paid fare as she got off the bus, but did not do so.
When she continued to try to walk away she was arrested on suspicion of fare evasion, and handcuffed.
She was later let go and her handcuffs were removed after officers confirmed her fare was valid.
Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain, responsible for policing in Croydon, said: “The news that an officer has been charged with assault will undoubtedly cause a great deal of concern.
“Officers know they must be able to justify their use of force. The Met has written to the IOPC seeking urgent clarity on the reasons for the charging decision.”
“Criminal proceedings are now active and as a result I am unable to comment further on the case.”
Pictured top: Scotland Yard (Picture: The Met)
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