Met chief under pressure over police actions at Sarah vigil

LONDON: The head of the Metropolitan Police is under intense pressure to explain her officers’ actions during a vigil in memory of Sarah Everard.

Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick is facing calls to resign after clashes between police and crowds who gathered on Clapham Common on Saturday night to remember the 33-year-old.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police were seen grabbing several women and leading them away in handcuffs. The force later said four people were arrested for public order and coronavirus regulation breaches.

But there has been condemnation of the policing of the vigil, which centred around a bandstand covered in flowers left in tribute. Home Secretary Priti Patel has demanded a full report on events – and described the scenes as “upsetting”.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called on Dame Cressida to resign, while Women’s Equality Party co-founder Catherine Mayer said her position was “untenable”.

Home Office minister Victoria Atkins said she took the events “very seriously” but that she wanted to give the commissioner “a chance to explain” what happened.

She told Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday: “I really, really want to support the Home Secretary in her request to have a report from Cressida. The police have got a tough job in policing the coronavirus pandemic more generally at the moment.” She added: “I think this morning given how difficult last night was, after what has been an incredibly upsetting week, I’m very keen that we don’t pre-empt that report and we give the Met Commissioner a chance to explain what happened last night.”

Labour has not called for Dame Cressida to resign, with shadow domestic violence minister Jess Phillips saying: “The reality is if Cressida Dick stays or goes (it) doesn’t make women in this country more safe, and that’s what I want to talk about.”

In the early hours of Sunday, Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball said police were put into a position “where enforcement action was necessary”.

“Those who gathered were spoken to by officers on a number of occasions and over an extended period of time. We repeatedly encouraged those who were there to comply with the law and leave. Regrettably, a small minority of people began chanting at officers, pushing and throwing items.”

The assembled crowd chanted “shame on you” as police led people away at the vigil, while during another confrontation a distressed woman could be heard telling officers “you’re supposed to protect us”. In one video obtained by the PA news agency, a woman could be seen being shoved forcefully in the back by two officers after being lifted from her knees.

The woman, who has not yet been identified, then tries to bend down near the officers and is shoved back again. She can be heard shouting that she is trying to retrieve her glasses.

Reclaim These Streets had organised the vigil before being forced to cancel following consultation with the Metropolitan Police, which said it would be in breach in coronavirus restrictions.

After the clashes, organiser Jamie Klingler said the force’s handling of events was a sign of the “systemic ignoring and oppressing of women”.

Hundreds of people converged on the south London park despite an official vigil being called off earlier in the day due to police warnings over coronavirus restrictions. Vigils also took place in locations including Glasgow, Nottingham, Birmingham and Bristol.