A senior Metropolitan Police officer has said he cannot apologise for the actions of officers at the vigil for Sarah Everard at Clapham Common in London.
Deputy Commissioner Stephen House said his officers were “doing their duty as they saw it” to enforce legislation at the event on Saturday.
The vigil, in memory of Ms Everard, had originally been organised by the protest group Reclaim These Streets which was forced to cancel it after police said it would be in breach of coronavirus rules.
However, crowds still gathered to remember the 33-year-old marketing executive, whose death has led to an outpouring of grief and anger at violence against women.
While largely peaceful, it was marred by scuffles, with police officers accused of heavy-handedness after some women were bundled to the ground and handcuffed.
Speaking to the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee on Wednesday, Mr House said he understood that the force’s actions had upset people but his officers had believed they were doing the right thing.
I can’t apologise for my officers
He added: “I understand that their actions have upset people and we see the evidence of that on a daily basis and we do not underestimate the upset that has been caused, but the officers took their actions believing they were doing the right thing to protect people’s health, they were following legislation put in place by Parliament to protect the public in the middle of a health crisis.
“That health crisis has not yet gone away.
“I can’t apologise for my officers.
“I am sorry of course that people are so upset at seeing officers enforcing legislation but the officers were doing their duty as they saw it and I will not second guess that at this moment in time.”
Crowd density
Mr House told the committee that between midday and 6pm the vigil had complied with Covid regulations.
But he said that after this people had tried to make speeches from the bandstand causing the crowd to draw together in order to hear and added: “We believe that when the crowd density increased, Covid regulations were no longer being followed.”
He told the committee that officers at the vigil were faced with an “incredibly difficult situation” and had been met with abuse for trying to disperse the crowds.
He said that officers had tried to issue fines but when people refused to give their names and addresses they were left with a choice of dropping the fines or making arrests.
He added: “The officers decided to proceed and make arrests for failing to give the information and also in one case a public order offence.”
Thomas Winsor, chief inspector of constabulary, is to carry out a review into the way the event was policed.
Mr House said the force fully supports the independent review and added that it was already passing on the information required.
Mr House also said there was a sense of “disbelief, anger and betrayal” in the force that an officer had been charged with the kidnap and murder of Ms Everard.
Speaking to the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee on Wednesday he said the “abhorrent action” did not reflect the Met he knew.
Serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, has been charged with Ms Everard’s kidnapping and murder.
