Disciplinary panel chair says: ‘Police officers are expected to uphold the law not to break it’, but community groups in Croydon are asking why that’s not been applied here
A Metropolitan Police detective working in south London has been dismissed from the force after pleading guilty to sexual assault.
More charges: London’s police have dismissed dozens of officers in recent months. But Croydon has a constable with a criminal conviction who is still working here
Detective Constable Jose Poonsawat was attached to the Central South Command Unit, which covers Lambeth and Southwark. He appeared at Croydon Magistrates Court last month charged with sexual assault, after being accused of “sexually touching a woman without her consent” while off-duty in December 2022. It has emerged that the victim was a police colleague.
He pleaded guilty and was released on court bail to appear for sentencing today.
Earlier this week, the Met’s misconduct hearing found that, “DC Poonsawat’s actions breached the standards of professional behaviour as set out in the Regulation 5 and Schedule 2 of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 namely: Discreditable conduct.”
Assistant Commissioner Pippa Mills, who chaired the misconduct hearing, said in her findings: “He has committed and been convicted of a serious criminal offence of a sexual nature.
“Police officers are expected to uphold the law not to break it…
Judgement: AC Pippa Mills
“It is entirely unacceptable for police officers, who are responsible for enforcing the law, to break the law themselves. Doing so undermines public trust and confidence in policing as well as our reputation.
“Neither the public or any colleagues could have confidence in Detective Constable Poonsawat to protect them or others, or properly investigate crimes.
“As such my decision is that Detective Constable Poonsawat is dismissed without notice.”
Poonsawat had continued to work for the police, albeit on “restricted” duties, since the case was brought. He was investigated by the officers from Bromley and the Met’s Domestic Abuse and Sexual Offences team.
In court today he was sentenced to a high-level community order for six months, given a curfew for four months – while also tagged – and ordered to pay court costs of £199.
Poonsawat will now be placed on the barred list held by the College of Policing, preventing him from future employment from police, local policing bodies and the Independent Office for Police Conduct, or His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.
Detective Superintendent Vanessa Britton, acting commander for policing in Lambeth and Southwark, said: “My thoughts are with the victim who has displayed courage in reporting this sexual assault.
“Officers are quite rightly held to account for wrongdoing by the courts.
“In this case DC Poonsawat has been held to account both by the courts and the Met’s rigorous misconduct process.
“He has no place in the Met and has been rightly dismissed.”
Yet meanwhile, in Croydon, the Met continues to employ a constable who has already been convicted of assault.
Guilty: Perry Lathwood was found guilty of assault. He continues to work as a police constable in Croydon
No misconduct action has yet been taken against PC Perry Lathwood, who in June was convicted of committing assault during the wrongful arrest of a woman bus passenger in Croydon last year.
Lathwood had indicated that he intends to appeal against the judgement.
Croydon community groups have written to the Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to say that they are “appalled” by the police’s attitude and the inaction since Lathwood’s guilty verdict last month.
“PC Lathwood’s conviction seems to have made no difference whatsoever – he is still on full pay and is not facing a fast track dismissal as is normal procedure following convictions,” the letter to the Commissioner stated.
In the letter, the community groups quoted Andy Brittain, Chief Superintendent of Croydon Police, as confirming that he intends to continue employing the convicted, violent officer in the force, “as punishing him will discourage new recruits”.
The letter stated: “Hundreds of police officers were dismissed last year – so why not Lathwood, who has been convicted of assault and whose actions are a clear example of the disproportionate use of force that black people often experience in interactions with the police?”
Read more:Community groups demand dismissal of convicted Met officer
Read more: Serving south London copper cops guilty plea to sexual assault
Read more: CronxWatch returns asking: ‘Where are Croydon’s police?’
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