London police criticized after splitting up vigil

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London police criticized after splitting up vigil
The Metropolitan Police's handling of a vigil in south London to mourn Sarah Everard has been widely criticized from over the political spectrum.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey needed Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick to resign more than the "utterly disgraceful" scenes and Home Secretary Priti Patel has asked for a written report.

Officers were seen handcuffing and leading ladies from the event.

Police said a number of arrests were made at the vigil to "protect people's safety".

Several hundred persons gathered on Clapham Prevalent on the subject of Saturday evening to pay tribute to the murdered 33-year-older, despite Covid restrictions.

The group Reclaim These Roads said they were "deeply saddened and angered" by the police's actions and criticized officers for "physically manhandling women at a vigil against male violence".

"It really is their responsibility to safeguard public order, open public health and the proper to protest - they failed tonight on all accounts," the group added in a affirmation.

The Met said it had been the "only responsible thing" to allow them to do to ensure public safety.

The force added a review will be completed to see if "lessons could be learned".

One video posted online showed officers removing women who were stood on the bandstand.

Cries of "shame you" and "have them go" could be heard from onlookers. The video recording showed them being devote a police van and driven apart.

Sir Ed Davey said found in a good tweet that Dame Cressida had "lost the self confidence of the an incredible number of women in London".

Ms Patel called footage on social media "upsetting" and said she had asked the Metropolitan Law enforcement for a "full report on what happened".

Sadiq Khan, the Labor Mayor of London, said the scenes were "unacceptable" and that he was "urgently seeking an explanation" from the commissioner.

"The police have a responsibility to enforce Covid laws but from photos I've seen it's very clear the response was at times neither appropriate nor proportionate," he tweeted.

Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said the scenes were "deeply disturbing".

"Women came collectively to mourn Sarah Everard - they must have been able to take action peacefully.

"I share their anger and upset at how it has been handled. This was not the best way to law enforcement this protest," Sir Keir tweeted.

Conservative MP Caroline Nokes, who chairs the Commons Women and Equalities Select Committee, said she was "truly shocked" at the scenes on Clapham Common.

"In this region we police by consent - not by trampling the tributes to a woman who was simply murdered and dragging other women to the bottom. Badly misjudged by #metpolice," Ms Nokes tweeted.
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