The Metropolitan Police has entered a war of words with the police watchdog over the Independent Office for Police Conduct’s persistent pursuit of charges against Croydon-based copper Perry Lathwood.
Walking free: PC Perry Lathwood was given a written warning over the ‘bus stop arrest’ in Selhurst in 2023
Lathwood, 51, faced possible dismissal over allegations that he breached standards of professional behaviour, including his use of force, but the hearing’s panel decided that he should only be given a written warning for misconduct.
A three-day misconduct hearing concluded yesterday, with Lathwood found to have failed to meet the standards of behaviour expected of a Met constable when he called a black mum a “daft cow” during a fraught and controversial arrest at a bus stop on Whitehorse Road in July 2023.
A Met spokesperson said following the hearing, “We disagreed with the IOPC’s determination that his actions could amount to gross misconduct… It was our view that his use of force was lawful.”
And the chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, the staff association, said, “PC Lathwood can finally put this incident behind him and carry on his career. We ask that he and his family are now left alone to get on with their lives.”
The panel found that Lathwood “had reasonable grounds to suspect fare evasion and was lawfully entitled to detain [Jocelyn] Agyemang to prevent her leaving”, according to the disciplinary panel chair, Commander Jason Prins.
“The panel finds handcuffing was necessary to prevent harm to Ms Agyemang, PC Lathwood, and the public. This view is supported by [body-worn video] and witnesses’ accounts.
“Ms Agyemang’s tone was antagonistic and she did not engage with officers’ requests,” Commander Prins claimed.
“The panel finds he used the minimum force necessary and finds the use of force was lawful, necessary, reasonable and proportionate.”
Agyemang needed treatment at A&E later on the day of the incident for bruising on her arm.
Commander Prins also said that Lathwood’s choice of language, “could reasonably be perceived as offensive and insulting and it demonstrated a lack of respect and courtesy”.
Speaking on behalf of the Met following the tribunal, Commander Nick John said: “PC Lathwood’s actions divided opinions, with video of the incident prompting a significant reaction from the public, particularly in Croydon.”
Backing Lathwood: the Met’s Commander Nick John
John conceded “the incident wasn’t handled perfectly and that there was important learning to take from it”, before adding, “We disagreed with the IOPC’s determination that his actions could amount to gross misconduct, meaning they were so serious they could result in dismissal if proven.
“It was our view that his use of force was lawful but that his language was a breach of the standards of professional behaviour at the level of misconduct only, meaning it should not result in dismissal.
“After considering all the evidence, the independent panel has reached the same conclusion.”
They had gathered evidence of other incidents in which Lathwood had used excessive and unnecessary force when on duty. The Football Supporters’ Association had compiled a dossier of complaints about the officer’s conduct at football matches, including video showing him using his baton on supporters.
Signatories to the letter included the South West London Law Centre, the Public Interest Law Centre, Black Lives Matter, Croydon Stand Up To Racism and the Holmesdale Fanatics.
“By continuing to employ and support an officer convicted of assaulting and unlawfully arresting a black woman in front of her son, you are perpetuating institutional racism,” the letter said.
Following the panel’s ruling yesterday, the IOPC said: “Police officers must treat members of the public with respect and courtesy during the course of their duties.
“This was a distressing incident for the woman, who was handcuffed in public in front of her child and the language used by PC Lathwood was disrespectful and unprofessional.
“This was a high-profile incident which caused significant public concern at the time, particularly in the Croydon community, and we know this interaction continues to have a lasting impact on the woman involved.”
Read more: Lathwood is ‘threat to the public’ says his Sussex neighbour
Read more: Bus ticket police officer gets written warning over misconduct
Read more: Community groups demand dismissal of convicted Met officer
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It is more that a quarter of a century since the MacPherson Report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence branded the Met Police as “institutionally racist, sexist, corrupt and incompetent” and nothing has changed since. The (national?) IOPC is not racist, and might have hoped that the largest police force in the country would have improved in the last 25 years but they, like everyone else, will be disappointed to find that they are still led by the “bad apples” that they claim are isolated exceptions !
Wrong.
The Macpherson Report concluded that the investigation into Stephen Lawrence’s murder was “marred by a combination of professional incompetence, institutional racism and a failure of leadership”.
That’s bad but it’s not “institutionally racist, sexist, corrupt and incompetent”
We can test out how “ruthless” the Met Police chief Rowley is by whether he gets rid of the worthless Perry Lathwood !?!
The fact that Lathwood is in his fifties but still a PC says a lot. He’s a blunt instrument, a tool for use by the Met to get the job done. I would love to see his employment record, has he ever been up for promotion? Did he fail exams? Also any disciplinary action regarding colleagues in the police force. Male or female.