[ad_1]
The Mayor of London has said that the police handling of the Sarah Everard vigil on Clapham Common was “unacceptable” and that he is “not satisfied” with the explanation he has received from the Chief of the Metropolitan Police.
The scenes of officers grabbing several women at the Saturday night meeting and taking them away handcuffed was widely criticized, including by politicians on all sides.
The vigil had been planned by Take back these streets, but the group canceled the event after what they said were repeated attempts to negotiate with Scotland Yard on ways it could move forward safely under coronavirus restrictions.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan says he is not satisfied with the police chief’s explanation.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
‘Deeply disturbing’ arrests during wakefulness
What had been a peaceful and gloomy gathering during the afternoon turned bitter and four arrests were made, with calls from Sadiq Khan and Interior Minister Priti Patel for Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick to provide a Explanation.
But Mr Khan said on Sunday: “I asked the commissioner and the deputy commissioner to come to City Hall today to give me an explanation of the events of yesterday and the days leading up to them. I am not satisfied with the explanation they have given me.
“Now I will ask Her Majesty’s Police Inspectorate [HMIC] carry out a full independent investigation of the events of last night and the previous days. I also ask the Independent Office of Police Conduct [IOPC] to investigate the actions of the cops last night.
“It is vital that these events are not allowed to undermine the powerful calls since Sarah’s murder for meaningful action to be taken to finally stop men who inflict violence on women. The day before yesterday it was clear that trust and confidence do not exist. Adequate trust on the part of women and girls in the police and criminal justice system more broadly. More action must now be taken to address this problem. “
Mr Khan said scenes of violence at the vigil were “completely unacceptable”, adding: “I can fully understand why women, girls and allies wanted to hold a vigil to remember Sarah and all women who have been subjected to violence or have lost their lives at the hands of men, and to recover public spaces where women feel so insecure.
The vigil had begun peacefully on London’s Clapham Common.
“Last week I asked the government and the police to work with the organizers of the vigil to clarify the law and find a way for it to be carried out legally and safely. On Friday, a Superior Court judge made it clear that there was a window to agree on a way for a vigil to take place safely.
“I received assurances from the Metropolitan Police last week that the vigil would be sensitively watched. In my opinion, this was not the case.”
The Home Secretary has also asked Sir Thomas Winsor, Chief Inspector of Police, to carry out a review of “lessons learned” on vigil surveillance.
Meanwhile, the woman who was photographed being pinned to the floor by police in Clapham on Saturday night has said she is determined to hold another meeting on Monday.
Patsy Stevenson said she didn’t feel like she had done anything wrong. Image: James Veysey / Shutterstock
Speaking to LBC on Sunday afternoon, Patsy Stevenson said she did not feel she had done anything wrong and that she planned to attend a meeting in Parliament Square on Monday.
She said she wanted to push for a change in the way women are treated, adding: “That is the least we should feel free to do, and I think it’s shocking that it has lasted so long and I think everyone should stand up. foot”. to him and keep the ball rolling and make something really change, “he added.
“The main point is to try to change something within the system to educate people on how we can make women feel safe and free to do what they want and live a normal life because there are so many things we cannot do. Do it without fear. “.
Ms Stevenson said she had been fined £ 200 after her arrest on Saturday, but wasn’t sure why, adding: ‘I can’t speak for everyone who was there, but I didn’t throw anything … the memory The night is a bit blurry, as you can understand, but I don’t remember anybody pushing people unless it was in retaliation.
“They (the police) said something like ‘for violating the COVID rules’, but they did not make it entirely clear to me from the beginning.
“The strange thing was that it didn’t really surprise me, which doesn’t say much about the police force.”
