Minister orders review into policing of event
VIGIL CLASH ‘MUST NOT UNDERMINE’ NEED TO END VIOLENCE
QUESTIONS OVER clashes at a vigil in memory of murdered York woman Sarah Everard must not undermine a “powerful” call for meaningful action, political leaders have warned, as an independent investigation into police action is ordered.
Home Secretary Priti Patel and London mayor Sadiq Khan have called for a review after officers from the Metropolitan Police clashed with crowds gathered to remember the 33-year-old on Clapham Common.
While the official vigil was called off, hundreds of people had converged on the south London park and four people were arrested for public order and coronavirus regulation breaches.
The Home Secretary spoke with the under-fire Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick yesterday, after receiving a report into Saturday night’s events.
But “in the interest of confidence in policing” Ms Patel asked Sir Thomas Winsor to conduct an independent review, a Government source said, with the Minister feeling there were “still questions to be answered”.
Dame Cressida was last night facing calls to resign after the clashes in which officers were seen grabbing several women and leading them away in handcuffs.
Mr Khan said he would be asking HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Independent Office for Police Conduct to look into events.
The mayor said the scenes at the vigil were “completely unacceptable”.
“It is vital that these events are not allowed to undermine the powerful calls since Sarah’s murder for meaningful action to finally stop men inflicting violence on women,” he added.
“It was clear before yesterday that there isn’t adequate trust and confidence from women and girls in the police and criminal justice system more widely. Further steps must now be taken to address this.”