Everard vigil ‘was policed correctly’

BRITAIN’S BIGGEST police force has been backed over its handling of the Sarah Everard vigil, although inspectors said the event was a PR disaster that damaged public confidence.

Watchdog Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) found that Metropolitan Police officers were not heavyhanded and remained “calm and professional” as crowds gathered in south London on March 13.

Inspectors were called in by Home Secretary Priti Patel and London Mayor Sadiq Khan to examine the force’s actions after women who attended the event on Clapham Common were bundled to the ground and arrested.

The ugly scenes attracted criticism on social media, with Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Women’s Equality Party cofounder Catherine Mayer leading calls for Met chief Dame Cressida Dick to resign.

But the inspectors found that officers at the event did their best to peacefully disperse the crowd, remained calm and professional when subjected to abuse, and did not act inappropriately or in a heavy-handed manner. They said it was unrealistic to hold a Covidsafe event on the common in light of the numbers of people who would attend and the short time available to plan the vigil.

Sir Thomas Winsor, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary, said: “Our civilian police model is precious. Officers are our fellow citizens, invested by the community to keep the community safe.”

The watchdog also found that the force should have adopted “a more conciliatory response” amid criticism after the event.