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A Metropolitan Police officer who was fined £1,500 for assault after wrongly arresting a woman for evading a bus fare in Croydon has had his conviction quashed on appeal.
Pc Perry Lathwood was found guilty of common assault after an incident in June 2023, when a woman had been travelling on a bus and was arrested on suspicion of avoiding the bus fare.
The incident was captured on camera and went viral on social media, with the woman de-arrested after it was proven that she had paid for her journey.
Following a trial at Westminster Magistrates Court, he was convicted of common assault but on Friday, his appeal was upheld at Southwark Crown Court.
Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe said: “I recognise that this incident has divided opinions. The impact it had, particularly on black communities in Croydon and further afield, was significant.
“However, PC Lathwood has now been cleared by the criminal courts and that decision must be respected.
“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.”
He remains on restricted duties pending the outcome of the misconduct process.
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