After PC Perry Lathwood was discovered responsible of assault in opposition to a mum he’d wrongfully handcuffed and arrested, Darren Lewis asks when will the police actually study classes and reassure the general public
Perry Lathwood arriving at Metropolis Of London Magistrates’ Court docket final week (
Picture: PA)
Welcome to the curious case of PC Perry Lathwood.
It comes after the well-documented fall-out over Sarah Everard’s homicide and a litany of different situations the place the police have accepted its officers’ conduct wants to vary. Lathwood was discovered responsible final week of assault in opposition to a mum he’d wrongfully handcuffed and arrested, accusing her of attempting to dodge a bus fare of £1.75.
Lathwood “manhandled” Jocelyn Agyemang in Croydon, South London, in entrance of her younger son, the trial heard. Deputy Senior District Choose Tan Ikram at Westminster Magistrates Court docket, stated it was “not essential to seize the girl’s arm, arrest her and handcuff her”.
“There weren’t cheap grounds to counsel arrest was crucial,” the decide added. “The officer made an error of judgment and overreacted.” Had it not been for cameraphone footage subsequently shotgunned throughout social media, the complete extent of Lathwood’s actions wouldn’t have been displayed for all to see.
He was discovered responsible of assault by beating after a one-day trial final week and can be sentenced on June 14. However right here’s the factor. After the decision, Matt Twist, an Assistant Commissioner with the Met, stated on Friday: “Regardless of immediately’s conviction, we are going to proceed to help the officer.”
The officer? Lathwood was convicted of assault, for goodness’ sake. What concerning the sufferer? Sure, Twist apologised on behalf of the power, however what concerning the humiliated Black mum whose son needed to watch her handcuffed on the street in misery when she’d been fully harmless?
What about telling us what kind of emotional help the power is offering for the younger boy traumatised by a totally avoidable set of circumstances? The place is the assertion telling us what the Met intends to do for him?
We hear once more the power will “study classes from this”, however the place is the distancing from the officer’s actions, the dedication to offer higher coaching, the reassurance to the general public that the power is working to revive public confidence within the wake of the incident?
Twist described the decision as “an enormous setback to our means to rebuild belief”. D’ya assume? In taking the place it has, the power has put its palms over its ears, closed its eyes and caught its head within the sand. Backing officers discovered to have damaged the legislation solely undermines any supposed dedication to preventing violence in opposition to ladies and ladies. It leaves us all involved that they proceed to behave with impunity.
…. to be continued
Learn Extra
Copyright for syndicated content material belongs to the linked Supply : Mirror – https://www.mirror.co.uk/information/police-eyes-closed-heads-sand-32852808