Abstract: A latch assembly includes a buckle and a tongue for releasably engaging the buckle. The tongue has a cut-out. The buckle includes a base having a slot for receiving the tongue. The buckle also includes a locking pawl pivotally attached to the base and engageable by the tongue, to pivot the locking pawl so that the locking pawl engages in the cutout of the tongue when the tongue is inserted in the slot of the base. The buckle also includes a release lever pivotally attached to the base, the release lever having a cut-out receiving the locking pawl to engage the release lever when the tongue is inserted in the slot of the base, thereby to block removal of the tongue from the buckle.