June 14th 2024.
A London police officer, PC Perry Lathwood, recently faced charges of assault by beating after an incident in which he wrongfully arrested a woman for not paying her bus fare. The incident occurred in Croydon, south London last year and was captured on video, which was widely shared on social media.
The woman, Ms Jocelyn Agyemang, was getting off the bus with her son when she was approached by Lathwood, who was assisting ticket inspectors at the time. Ms Agyemang had paid her fare but was asked to show her Oyster card to the inspectors. Lathwood intervened and ended up grabbing her arm, causing bruising, and arresting her. The incident was witnessed by Ms Agyemang's young son, who was left sobbing hysterically.
In court, Ms Agyemang shared a victim personal statement, expressing how deeply humiliating and embarrassing the incident was for her and the devastating effect it had on her and her son. She described Lathwood as having a look of contempt in his eyes and calling her a "daft cow". It was later confirmed that Ms Agyemang had indeed paid her fare and was wrongly arrested.
The prosecutor, Paul Jarvis, explained that Lathwood had grabbed Ms Agyemang's arm even after she had moved away from him, and repeatedly demanded that she tap her card for the inspectors. He also mentioned that Ms Agyemang's child was becoming distressed by the situation. Eventually, Lathwood was forced to de-arrest Ms Agyemang and let her go with her son, after it was determined that she had paid for her travel.
Lathwood, who is from Normans Bay, East Sussex, denied the charges and plans to appeal his conviction. He claimed that he was trying to prevent Ms Agyemang and her child from getting run over by a vehicle. However, the judge found his account lacking credibility.
Ms Agyemang, in her testimony, said that Lathwood's actions made her feel deeply violated. She remembers him suddenly grabbing her arm and holding on tightly, causing her pain. She also mentioned feeling anxious and not knowing what she had done wrong, especially since she had her Oyster card in her hand at the time.
Lathwood had also called her a "daft cow" while releasing her from his grip, according to Ms Agyemang. She believes he was trying to accuse her of running into the road, which was not the case.
The judge, Tan Ikram, acknowledged the challenges that police officers face in making real-time decisions on the street. However, he also noted that sometimes they get it wrong, as was the case with Lathwood. He emphasized that it was not an abuse of power, but rather a mistake made in the heat of the moment.
In his decision, Judge Ikram took into consideration Lathwood's lack of previous convictions or cautions, as well as his previous good character. He also recognized the impact that this incident had on the victim's mental health and her young son. Lathwood was ultimately fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £200 in compensation, as well as £650 in costs and a £600 victim surcharge, totaling £2,950, to be paid within 56 days.
This incident serves as a reminder that even those in positions of authority can make mistakes and must be held accountable for their actions. The impact on the victim and her son should not be overlooked, and justice was served in this case.
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