Metropolitan Police officer Perry Lathwood, who was fined £1,500 for assaulting a woman mistakenly suspected of evading a bus fare, has had his conviction overturned on appeal. The incident occurred in June 2023 in Croydon and was widely shared on social media, showing Lathwood grabbing the woman by the arm, which led to bruising injuries. Initially convicted of common assault at Westminster Magistrates' Court in May 2023, Lathwood's conviction was quashed at Southwark Crown Court​(

Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe acknowledged the significant impact the incident had, especially within Black communities. While Lathwood's actions were deemed a momentary error of judgment made in the heat of the moment, it was not considered to have been done in bad faith. He remains on restricted duties as the police conduct a separate misconduct investigation​