A Metropolitan Police officer has been charged with assault after a probe into the arrest of a woman on suspicion of evading a bus fare in south London.
Pc Perry Lathwood, 49, attached to the Met’s Road Traffic Policing Command, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on February 14 charged with assault by beating in relation to bruising injuries caused to the woman’s arm during the incident on July 21 in Whitehorse Road, Croydon.
It comes after an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) which concluded in December.
The woman was later de-arrested when it was confirmed that she had paid the fare.
The IOPC launched an investigation in August shortly after footage of the incident was widely circulated online.
Video of the incident showed her being held by two male officers in Croydon on July 21, while her child could be heard crying in the background.
Police said she had refused to show her ticket to inspectors, a community support officer and constables and "continued to try to walk away".
As the woman's arms were being held, she was heard shouting in the footage "what the hell, what are you doing, what the f*** is going on".
In a statement the IOPC said: "PC Perry Lathwood, aged 49, attached to the Road Traffic Policing Command, will appear at the Westminster Magistrates' Court on 14 February 2024 to face one charge of assault by beating in relation to bruising injuries caused to the woman’s arm during the incident, which took place on 21 July on Whitehorse Road.
"We began our investigation in the days following the incident. At the conclusion of our investigation in December, we referred a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service, who authorised charges against the officer."
Ch Sup Andy Brittain, who is responsible for policing in Croydon, said: "The news that an officer has been charged with assault will undoubtedly cause a great deal of concern.
"Officers know they must be able to justify their use of force.
"The Metropolitan Police Service has written to the IOPC seeking urgent clarity on the reasons for the charging decision."
