ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Police 'Did Not Act Inappropriately' At Sarah Everard Vigil, Review Says

Police 'Did Not Act Inappropriately' At Sarah Everard Vigil, Review Says

The review was carried out by the Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Thomas Winsor

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

Metropolitan Police officers 'did not act inappropriately or in a heavy-handed manner' at the vigil held in memory of Sarah Everard on Clapham Common earlier this month, a review has said.

The review was carried out by the Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Thomas Winsor.

Images and video footage showed police clashing with members of the public at the vigil on 13 March, which was held in memory of Sarah Everard.

Protest group Reclaim These Streets had initially planned for a vigil to take place on Clapham Common that evening, but were told by police the event would be unsafe in light of current coronavirus restrictions.

Following the cancellation of the official vigil, the group urged mourners to stand on their doorsteps with a candle or light at 9.30pm - the time Everard is thought to have gone missing.

However, a large number of people gathered at Clapham Common to mourn Everard's passing against the police advice.

PA

In footage from the gathering, the crowd can be heard chanting 'shame on you' as police try to disperse attendees.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Labour MP for Streatham, tweeted footage of the vigil with the caption: "This could have been the socially distanced vigil the community needed to remember Sarah and all the women who have lost their lives to violence.

"We knew what was going to happen if the event was shut down.

"Very disappointing from Scotland Yard."

PA

Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted to describe footage of the police response to the vigil as 'upsetting'.

She wrote: "Some of the footage circulating online from the vigil in Clapham is upsetting. I have asked the Metropolitan Police for a full report on what happened.

"My thoughts remain with Sarah's family and friends at this terrible time."

The Met Police said on Twitter that officers had urged 'hundreds' of protesters to go home.

Met Police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick, who faced calls to step down in the wake of what happened, said: "We're still in a pandemic, unlawful gatherings are unlawful gatherings, officers have to take action if people are putting themselves massively at risk."

PA

Mayor Sadiq Khan later called for a 'full, independent' investigation into the vigil, saying he was 'not satisfied' with Dame Dick's explanation into police action.

In a statement on Twitter, he said: "I asked the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner to come into City Hall today to give me an explanation of yesterday's events and the days leading up to them. I am not satisfied with the explanation they have provided.

"I will now be asking Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary [HMIC] to conduct a full independent investigation of events yesterday evening and in previous days. I am also asking the Independent Office for Police Conduct [IOPC] to investigate the actions of police officers yesterday evening."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, News