UK police under pressure over clashes at women's protest

Police force which dragged mourners from a vigil for a woman whose suspected killer is a police officer faced a backlash from public, politicians, with govt demanding they account for the actions

London’s police force which dragged mourners from a vigil for a woman whose suspected killer is a police officer faced a backlash from the public and politicians on Sunday, with the government demanding they account for the actions.

The disappearance of Sarah Everard, 33, as she walked home on the evening of March 3 has provoked a huge outpouring of grief and dismay in Britain at the failure of police and wider society to tackle violence against women.

Police had denied permission for a vigil on Saturday evening at London’s Clapham Common, near where Everard was last seen alive, citing regulations designed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

But hundreds of people, mostly women, gathered peacefully at the park in defiance of the ban to pay their respects to Everard throughout the day, including Kate, Britain’s Duchess of Cambridge.

Footage shared on social media from late on Saturday showed dozens of police officers marching into the crowd to shouts of “shame on you,” scuffles breaking out, and officers dragging women away from the scene.

An image of officers handcuffing a woman as she lay screaming on the floor was widely shared and condemned on social media.