UK politicians slam police's harsh reaction to vigil of murdered London woman
Mar 14, 2021
London [UK], March 15 : Several UK politicians and activists slammed London police's heavy-handed approach at a Saturday night vigil for Sarah Everand, a 33-year-old woman who was murdered and her body was found in South London on Friday.
Throughout the day, mourners had flocked to the bandstand of Clapham Common, an area where Everard was last seen, in a tribute to her life. They also came in an act of solidarity, as an acknowledgement of the shared, omnipresent experience of intimidation, violence and harassment that women constantly face in public spaces, according to CNN.
The main event at Clapham Common was cancelled after the Metropolitan police said they couldn't go ahead, citing COVID-19 restrictions. However, by nightfall, peaceful mourners gathered in Clapham, chanting: "This is a vigil, we do not need your services."
Less than an hour later, officers moved in to inform people that they were breaching COVID-19 regulations and had to leave. After that, officers moved in and surrounded demonstrators - asking them to leave, or faces arrest and fines.
CNN reported that as law enforcement officers forcibly removed women from the bandstand and dropped others face down to the floor in arrest, attendees chanted: "Shame on you," "Arrest your own," and "Who do you protect."
Several UK leaders across party divides have agreed that the police response was disproportionately harsh and London Mayor has ordered "a full independent investigation of events yesterday evening and in previous days."
"I will now be asking Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) to conduct a full independent investigation of events yesterday and in previous days. I am also asking the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to investigate the actions of police officers yesterday evening," Khan said in the statement.
"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. 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," he added.
