Exclusive: Victim of fare evasion incident ‘traumatised’ by court case and Met’s failed apology

A woman who was wrongly arrested in front of her child over a fare evasion incident in Croydon last summer has been left “traumatised” by the court case, her solicitor has said.

PC Perry Lathwood, attached to the Road Traffic Policing Command, was found guilty of assault by beating on Friday. 

The verdict followed a one-day trial at City of London Magistrates’ Court last week. 

The charge comes in relation to an incident on July 21, 2023, when Jocelyn Agyemang was left with bruising on her wrist, arm and shoulder after she was wrongly arrested by PC Lathwood for suspected fare evasion.

Ms Agyemang’s solicitor, Jade Brown of the Actions Against the Police Department at Taylor Rose MW, said the mother was “humiliated” during the incident and “traumatised” by the subsequent court case.

Speaking to the South London Press, Ms Brown said: “Ms Agyemang was forced to relive the events of July 21, 2023, labelled hysterical, accused of causing her own injuries and for not caring about her young child. 

“The incident and subsequent court proceedings have had a profound and traumatic effect on Ms Agyemang, and she has required medical intervention.”

The IOPC began an investigation after a complaint referral from the Met, which was made on Ms Agyemang’s behalf in the days after the incident took place in Whitehorse Road. The police watchdog then referred the file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)which decided the officer should be charged.

The arrest was captured on PC Lathwood’s bodycam footage. The footage shows Ms Agyemang repeatedly asking the officer to get off her and telling him he is hurting her.

Ms Brown said: “Unfortunately, I come across police officers abusing their powers all too often. This is often in the form of unlawful arrests and the excessive use of force resulting in injuries, sometimes very serious injuries.”

“Baroness Casey’s Report found the Met to be institutionally racist, homophobic, and sexist and called for a complete overhaul.

“While conduct from the likes of PC Lathwood carries on, change cannot happen.” 

In a statement, Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: “This verdict is a huge setback to our ability to rebuild trust with Londoners. We will learn the lessons from this and we apologise to the woman and the wider community who were deeply affected. 

“Despite today’s conviction, we will continue to support the officer and continue to support our workforce, to ensure officers have the confidence to act decisively and make arrests when they believe they have the powers to do so.”

Despite the public apology, Ms Brown said Ms Agyemang has not received a personal apology from PC Lathwood or the force.

She said: “Many may share our client’s disappointment with the Met’s response. 

“The Met has said it will not apply for an accelerated misconduct hearing despite such a step being commonplace after a criminal conviction of a police officer.”

Since the incident, the Met said it has stopped supporting Transport for London fare evasion operations. PC Lathwood will be sentenced on June 14.

Ms Brown said: “Ms Agyemang feels both vindicated and relieved by the verdict. It is not often police officers are brought before the court and convicted. Justice has been served.”

Pictured top: A still taken from PC Lathwood’s bodycam footage  (Picture: IOPC)