In a move that the Metropolitan police commissioner, Mark Rowley, will hope draws a line under one of the darkest periods of the Met's recent history, the force acknowledged it was "understandable" that Patsy Stevenson and Dania al-Obeid had wanted to attend a candle-lit vigil at Clapham Common because they felt women had been "badly let down".
The women told the Guardian the apology had been hard-won and was welcome but vowed to continue to "speak up about police abuse" and fight for better policing of violence against women and girls.
The women had been at the vigil for Everard, who was kidnapped, raped and murdered by a serving Metropolitan police officer in March 2021, when Covid restrictions on large gatherings were in place.
The image of Stevenson being pinned to the floor by officers as she was arrested sparked widespread fury and distrust among women, while the Met's actions at the vigil drew fierce criticism of the force and its commissioner at the time, Cressida Dick.
A 2021 police inspectorate review into the event called the Met's conduct "absolutely right".
Last October the pair launched legal claims against the Met under the Human Rights Act after prosecutors halted attempts by the force to criminalise them and four others.
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Bajrami and McCausland to the fore as Rangers seal impressive victory
Rangers made a storming start to their Europa League campaign with a 2-0 win over Malmö in Sweden that should have been even more emphatic. Nedim Bajrami scored his first goal for the Ibrox club in less than a minute and Philippe Clement's side passed up several chances to add a second before the interval.
Thames credit ratings cut to lower levels of junk as default fears grow
Thames Water's debt rating has been slashed to the lower levels of junk by two major credit rating agencies, piling further pressure on the UK's biggest water company, which is rapidly running through cash and fighting to stave off renationalisation.
Austria Fears rise over prospect of far-right election win
After topping the Austrian poll in June's EU elections, the far-right Freedom party (FPÖ) seized the moment, calling for the appointment of an EU \"remigration\" commissioner to be tasked with the forced return of migrants and citizens with a migration background to their countries of origin.
'Cold and direct' Fayed's security chief accused of facilitating abuse
It was May 1991 and Mohamed AI Fayed was in a foul mood. \"I told you, no sex with anybody else, no relationship with anybody else,\" he ranted.
Allegations made over tycoon's years at Fulham FC
Sexual assault allegations have been made relating to Mohamed AI Fayed's 16 years of ownership of Fulham Football Club, lawyers representing his accusers have said.
'No sane people are going' Leadership race casts pall over Tory conference
On Tuesday, four candidates will make their pitches to lead the Conservative party from a conference stage in Birmingham. Their immediate challenge after the Tory rout this summer will be to reinvigorate demoralised MPs and members.
Pandemic as deadly as Covid-19 'a certainty', says Whitty
Another pandemic as big as the Covid crisis that killed 7 million people worldwide was \"a certainty\", Prof Sir Chris Whitty warned yesterday, as he said the UK's lack of intensive care capacity for the sickest patients was a \"political choice\".
Naomi Campbell banned as charity trustee for five years
Naomi Campbell has been banned from being a charity trustee after a watchdog investigation uncovered widespread evidence of financial misconduct at the poverty relief charity she founded.
Family haunted by last moments of teenager killed by 12-year-olds
The family of a man killed by the UK's youngest knife murderers have said they are haunted by thoughts of his last moments and \"how scared he must have been\".
London rail stations to be shut for up to eight days over festive period
Some of London's main railway stations will be closed and train services diverted at Christmas time, Network Rail has said.