Babak Belurs

Minggu, 14 Maret 2021

London police chief won’t resign over handling of vigil - Al Jazeera English

London’s police commissioner says she will not resign, defends officers’ actions dispersing a vigil for Sarah Everard.

London’s police commissioner has defended her officers’ actions and said she did not intend to resign amid a backlash over the way police treated some protesters during a vigil for a woman whose suspected murderer is a police officer.

London police faced heavy criticism from the public and politicians on Sunday for their heavy-handed tactics in breaking up the vigil.

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 the UK 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 aimed at preventing 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, the Duchess of Cambridge.

Late on Saturday, dozens of police officers marched into the crowd to shouts of “shame on you.” Scuffles broke out and officers dragged several women away from the scene.

Home Secretary Priti Patel, the minister in charge of policing, described footage of the incident as “upsetting”. The BBC reported she had ordered an independent inquiry after an initial police report left some questions unanswered.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was “not satisfied” with police chiefs’ explanation of the events and officers’ conduct must be examined. An image of officers handcuffing a woman as she lay on the floor was widely shared and condemned on social media.

Police were seen scuffling with some women at the event, and one woman was seen pinned to the ground by two officers. Video widely shared on social media showed a woman pulled up from the ground by officers, who then shoved her from the back.

Several women were led away in handcuffs. The force later said four people were arrested for violating public order and coronavirus regulations.

On Sunday, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, who is the first woman to head the force, said she was “more determined than ever” to lead the organisation.

She said she fully understood the strength of feeling in response to Everard’s case, but stressed that Saturday’s vigil was an unlawful gathering and officers had been put in a “very difficult position”.

My full statement following my meeting with the Met Commissioner to discuss the policing of the vigil on Clapham Common last night: pic.twitter.com/lagvqVNSDf

— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) March 14, 2021

Everard’s murder has resonated with women across the country, prompting thousands to share on social media their experiences of violence and sexual assaults perpetrated by men, and vividly describe the daily fear they feel.

A steady flow of quiet mourners visited the site of the vigil on Sunday, placing flowers around a bandstand.

Al Jazeera’s Nadim Baba, reporting from London, said it was a “peaceful gathering”.

“But the emotion was clear, they were denouncing what they see as police brutality, heavy-handed tactics, and the tone-deafness of what happened on Saturday evening,” Baba reported.

Patsy Stevenson, who was pictured pinned to the ground by two officers during Saturday’s clashes, said she was considering whether to challenge the 200-pound ($278) fine she received.

“We were there to remember Sarah, we all felt deeply saddened and still do that it happened, so I brought a candle with me but unfortunately wasn’t even able to light it to put it down because the police turned up and barged their way through,” she told LBC radio.

Police officer Wayne Couzens charged with Everard’s murder appeared in court on Saturday. Police discovered her body on Wednesday in woodland about 50 miles (80 km) southeast of London. The court heard that her body was found in a builder’s refuse bag, and identified using dental records.

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2021-03-14 19:09:08Z
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BREAKING: Met Police chief says she will not step down over Sarah Everard vigil tactics - Sky News

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2021-03-14 17:35:44Z
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BREAKING: Protesters gather outside Scotland Yard following clashes with police - Sky News

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2021-03-14 16:45:58Z
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Sarah Everard vigil: London mayor 'not satisfied' by Met chief's explanation for 'completely unacceptable' policing - Sky News

The mayor of London has said the police handling of the vigil for Sarah Everard on Clapham Common was "unacceptable" - and that he is "not satisfied" with the explanation he has received from the head of the Metropolitan Police.

The scenes of officers grabbing several women at the Saturday evening gathering and leading them away in handcuffs were widely criticised, including by politicians of all sides.

A Home Office spokesperson also said that Home Secretary Priti Patel had read the police report and "feels there are still questions to be answered".

However, a Home Office source told Sky News that Ms Patel still has "full confidence" in Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick, despite calls for her resignation.

PA news agency reported that Prime Minister Boris Johnson also spoke to the commissioner on Sunday but there were no details on the content of their conversation.

The vigil had been planned by Reclaim These Streets, but the group cancelled the event after what they said were repeated attempts to negotiate with Scotland Yard about ways it could go ahead safely under coronavirus restrictions.

What had been a peaceful and sombre gathering during the afternoon turned sour and four arrests were made, with calls from London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Ms Patel for Dame Cressida to provide an explanation.

But, as hundreds of people gathered in protest outside Scotland Yard, Mr Khan said on Sunday: "I asked the commissioner and deputy commissioner to come into City Hall today to give me an explanation of yesterday's events and the days leading up to them. I am not satisfied with the explanation they have provided.

"I will now be asking Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary to conduct a full independent investigation of events yesterday evening and in previous days. I am also asking the Independent Office for Police Conduct to investigate the actions of police officers yesterday evening.

"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."

Mr Khan said the scenes arising from the policing of the vigil were "completely unacceptable", adding: "I received assurances from the Metropolitan Police last week that the vigil would be policed sensitively. In my view, this was not the case."

The home secretary has also asked Sir Thomas Winsor, Chief Inspector of Constabulary, to conduct a "lessons learned" review into the policing of the vigil.

Meanwhile, the woman who was pictured being pinned to the ground by police in Clapham on Saturday night has said she is determined to hold another gathering on Monday.

Speaking to LBC on Sunday afternoon, Patsy Stevenson said she did not feel she had done anything wrong and was planning to attend a gathering in Parliament Square on Monday.

She said she wanted to push for change in the way women are treated, adding: "That's the bare minimum we should feel the freedom to do, and I think it's appalling that it's gone on for this long and I think everyone needs to stand up to it and keep the ball rolling and get something actually changed.

"The main point is trying to get something changed within the system to educate people on how we can make women feel safe and just free to do what they want to do and live a normal life because there are so many things that we are unable to do without fear."

Ms Stevenson said she had been fined £200 after her arrest on Saturday but was unsure why, adding: "I can't speak for everyone that was there but I didn't throw anything... the recollection of the night is a bit blurry, as you can understand, but I don't recollect anyone pushing people unless it was in retaliation.

"They (the police) said something along the lines of 'for breaching COVID rules' but they didn't make it entirely clear to me from the start.

"The weird thing was, I wasn't actually surprised, which doesn't say much really about the police force."

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2021-03-14 16:41:15Z
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Sarah Everard vigil: London mayor 'not satisfied' by Met chief's explanation for 'completely unacceptable' policing - Sky News

The scenes of officers grabbing several women at the Saturday evening gathering and leading them away in handcuffs were widely criticised, including by politicians of all sides.

What had been a peaceful and sombre gathering during the afternoon turned sour and four arrests were made, with calls from Sadiq Khan and Home Secretary Priti Patel for the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick to provide an explanation.

"I will now be asking Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary [HMIC] to conduct a full independent investigation of events yesterday evening and in previous days. I am also asking the Independent Office for Police Conduct [IOPC] to investigate the actions of police officers yesterday evening.

The home secretary has also asked Sir Thomas Winsor, Chief Inspector of Constabulary, to conduct a "lessons learned" review into the policing of the vigil.

Meanwhile, the woman who was pictured being pinned to the floor by police in Clapham on Saturday night has said she is determined to hold another gathering on Monday.

Speaking to LBC on Sunday afternoon, Patsy Stevenson said she did not feel she had done anything wrong and was planning to attend a gathering in Parliament Square on Monday.

"They (the police) said something along the lines of 'for breaching COVID rules' but they didn't make it entirely clear to me from the start.

"The weird thing was, I wasn't actually surprised, which doesn't say much really about the police force."

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PC's wife 'living in fear' as he’s remanded over Sarah Everard 'murder' - Metro.co.uk

The wife of a policeman accused of kidnapping and murdering Sarah Everard has been ‘living in fear’ because of attacks from trolls.

The mother of PC Wayne Couzens’s wife Elena has said she has been targeted with abuse on her Facebook account, which has since been deleted.

Mum Nina Sukhoreba, who lives in Ukraine, told the Sunday Mirror: ‘I am very surprised how the Western people have behaved.

‘How can they write such horror about my family?’

In regards to the backlash her daughter and son-in-law faced online, she added: ‘Have they never heard of presumption of innocence?’

Couzens and Elena met in Switzerland where she was working and were married 15 years ago.

One of her mother’s friends said Elena was ‘really scared’ and ‘can’t believe what is happening’.

They added: ‘Her mum has never called Wayne her son-in-law, always son, and their relationship is more like mum and son.’

Undated family handout of missing woman Sarah Everard, 33, who left a friend's house in Clapham, south London, on Wednesday evening at around 9pm and began walking home to Brixton, said Scotland Yard. PA Photo. Issue date: Saturday March 6, 2021. She is thought to have left Leathwaite Road through a back gate and walked across Clapham Common and was expected to arrive home around 50 minutes later, but she has not been seen or heard from since.See PA story POLICE Missing. Photo credit should read: Family Handout/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. — Sarah Everard, 33, disappeared in south London on March 3. (PA)

Couzens appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday morning charged with kidnap and murder following his arrest on Tuesday.

He arrived at the central London court at 10am in a large blue police van, stepping into the dock around 30 minutes later.

In the dock, he wore a grey tracksuit and appeared to have a red wound on the top of his forehead.

Couzens spoke only to confirm his name and personal details, sitting between two plainclothes officers.

He is accused of kidnapping Ms Everard, 33, in the Poynders Road area of Clapham.

Ms Everard‘s body was found inside a builder’s bag in Kent and was later identified through the use of dental records, the court heard.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring remanded Couzens in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on March 16.

***TV OUT*** Artist's drawing of Wayne Couzens appearing at Westminster Magistrates Court. He appeared to have a red wound on his head and spoke quietly when asked to confirm his name, date of birth and address. Mr Couzens was arrested on Tuesday after 33-year-old Sarah Everard disappeared when walking home to Brixton from Clapham in south London last week. March 13 2021. — Artist’s drawing of Wayne Couzens appearing at Westminster Magistrates Court. (SWNS)

The Metropolitan Police previously said Couzens joined the force in 2018, most recently serving in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, an armed unit responsible for guarding the Parliamentary estate and embassies in London.

His main job was uniformed patrol of diplomatic buildings, and Scotland Yard said he was not on duty at the time of Ms Everard’s disappearance.

The force said that Couzens, of Deal, in Kent, was taken to hospital for a second time in 48 hours on Friday for treatment to another head injury sustained in custody, before he was discharged and returned to a police station.

He was previously treated in hospital for a separate head wound on Thursday, also sustained in custody when he was alone in his cell.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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2021-03-14 12:53:00Z
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Sarah Everard vigil: Senior officers say a hostile crowd left them with no choice in Clapham – but there were other options - Sky News

By any measure, Saturday night's scenes on Clapham Common make for deeply uncomfortable viewing.

For the Metropolitan Police, in particular the senior command team at Scotland Yard, the optics are terrible.

Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball said that officers were left with no choice but to intervene as hundreds of people were packed together in an area around the main band stand, posing an obvious health risk.

But in truth, commanders on the ground did have a choice. They could have stood back and maintained a more discreet presence.

Of course there are many who will say that you can't have one rule for one group when it comes to breaking lockdown restrictions and then turn a blind eye to another.

The more robust policing around recent anti-lockdown protests in which hundreds of arrests were made is a case in point.

But the situation on Clapham Common was different. This was never intended to be a defiant protest, rather a respectful vigil, where the organisers said they would take whatever action the police deemed appropriate to ensure people could be socially distanced.

However, Reclaim These Streets, the group behind the original vigil plans said repeated attempts to negotiate a compromise solution with Scotland Yard were turned down.

Although Reclaim These Streets cancelled the official vigil, it was inevitable that others would still turn out.

In fact, the vacuum left by the inability of the Met to reach an agreement with the organisers for a smaller vigil, was filled by some groups intent on a more defiant approach.

Assistant Commissioner Ball said that officers faced abuse, with a small minority chanting, pushing and throwing items.

But I can't help thinking that had the Met reached a more workable compromise for a smaller, more socially distanced vigil, there would have been less chance of more confrontational elements heading to Clapham Common.

But even with some more hostile people in the crowd, senior officers still had a choice, they could have stepped back.

Last June, Scotland Yard took the decision to facilitate Black Lives Matter protests in London and across the country.

Gatherings of more than six people were banned at the time because of the COVID restrictions. But the Met decided not to intervene because of the very sensitive nature of the protest.

Indeed, groups of officers even took a knee in solidarity with those marching.

No one can surely argue that the vigil on Clapham Common last night, with all the events of recent days, wasn't a highly sensitive event as well.

Contrast the decisions made around Clapham Common with those made by Police Scotland in Glasgow last week.

Police did not intervene to arrest the hundreds of Rangers supporters celebrating their team's league title win.

Instead, they allowed the crowd to celebrate and disperse. Intervening would undoubtedly have escalated that situation.

One former officer, with years of public order policing, told me: "The Met will need to be very careful about policing events in the next few days.

"Sometimes doing nothing is the best tactical option in the circumstances.

"If you are going to intervene for public safety then any intervention should not cause disorder and confrontation to escalate."

The Met's commissioner, Cressida Dick, is now under intense pressure to explain her officers' actions, with some even calling for her resignation.

Her job security is far from assured, given a notable intervention by the home secretary last night.

Far from expressing confidence in Dame Cressida, Priti Patel described some of the scenes playing out on social media as "upsetting" and demanded a full report from her.

Coupled with severe criticism from the London mayor, Labour and Lib Dem leaders, as well as many other politicians, this will be a very difficult few days ahead for Cressida Dick - the Met's first female commissioner.

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2021-03-14 12:25:33Z
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Minggu, 14 Maret 2021

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