Sarah Everard vigil: Organisers slam Cressida Dick for ‘failing to work with them’ as cops search pathway for clues

STREETS ARE 'LAWLESS' FOR WOMEN IN THE UK

Women regard the streets as "lawless" when it comes to male behaviour, the Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales has said.

Dame Vera Baird QC told BBC Breakfast that women had begun to speak about their "appalling experiences".

She said: "They regard quite clearly the streets as lawless for women when it comes to male behaviour. Men it seems, they tell us, they can do what they want and say what they want, and nobody will take action.

"As we know, it doesn't seem to many people worth it to make a complaint to the police because if someone complains of rape, 98 per cent of the 55,000 people who have complained of rape do not even get a charge."

Dame Vera urged: "It is absolutely critical the Government takes urgent and sustained action to redress the confidence in the police and criminal justice system - and really, frankly, half the population."

PM TO DISCUSS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN WITH MET CHIEF AMID FURY AT FORCE

Boris Johnson will discuss ways to protect women and girls from violence with the head of the Met Police amid a storm of criticism over the force's handling of a vigil in memory of Sarah Everard.

The Prime Minister is expected to chair a meeting of the Government's Crime and Justice Taskforce on Monday, with Dame Cressida Dick - who has resisted calls to quit over the events - among the attendees.

Mr Johnson said he was "deeply concerned" about footage of the event, some of which showed police officers grabbing women and leading them away in handcuffs.

He added: "(On Monday) I will chair a meeting of the Government's Crime and Justice Taskforce to look at what further action we need to take to protect women and ensure our streets are safe.

"The death of Sarah Everard must unite us in determination to drive out violence against women and girls and make every part of the criminal justice system work to protect and defend them."

WOMEN AT VIGIL FELT 'SILENCED'

Women attending Saturday night's vigil of Sarah Everard felt they had been "silenced" by cops, according to one woman arrested at the event.

Dania Al-Obeid was detained at the bandstand on Clapham Common in south London on Saturday during the vigil in memory of the murdered 33-year-old.

She told BBC Radio 4 today that she was arrested for allegedly breaching Covid regulations.

Dania added: "I understood police on the ground were following orders. When I did get arrested and spoke to them, and when I was handcuffed in the van, they understood our position. They were just following orders.

"I think that's where the frustration was, the bigger picture here was lost. We felt we were silenced and this could have been avoided if there was some understanding and compassion to the trauma that women feel every single day."

DAME CRESSIDA DICK DEFENDED OVER VIGIL FURORE

Policing minister Kit Malthouse has this morning defended Met Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick amid angry calls for her to step down.

"Cressida Dick is an officer of superlative achievement in her life and she has been close to some incredibly successful investigations," he told BBC Breakfast.

"I know that she is very dedicated and committed to this issue of dealing with violence against women and girls in as assertive a way as we possibly can."

SUSANNA REID SLAMS 'SHOCKING SCENES' AT VIGIL

Susanna Reid made a passionate speech about women's safety after the vigil for Sarah Everard.

She tackled "shocking" scenes at Clapham Common which saw women pinned to the ground and handcuffed - and pleaded for answers on how things had gone so badly wrong

"This was supposed to be a peaceful vigil for Sarah," Susanna told Good Morning Britain viewers.

"That's the absolutely tragic case of a woman who was simply walking home a week ago.

"Women gathered - more than 1,000 of them - to just pay respects, lay flowers and make a point about the fact they don't feel safe."

COUZENS WILL CLAIM SALARY

More on that last blog post.

The pay precedent has been established in line with the presumption the officer, like any defendant, is innocent until proven guilty.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council said: “The policy would be the officer is on full pay until the point they are dismissed.”

Here's what you need to know.

PAY FOR PC

Accused cop Wayne Couzens will continue to get his PC’s salary while he is on trial for Sarah Everard’s murder.

The armed diplomatic protection officer will receive his full wage of at least £33,000-a-year up until the trial verdict if he pleads not guilty.

More on this in the next post.

SADIQ KHAN CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION INTO HANDLING OF VIGIL

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has asked for a “full independent investigation” into the Metropolitan Police’s handling of Saturday night’s Clapham Common vigil.

"I received assurances from the Metropolitan Police last week that the vigil would be policed sensitively," he said in a statement released this afternoon.

"In my view, this was not the case."

Khan said he he was “not satisfied” with the explanation he had been given by the force’s leadership, and was now asking for a "full independent investigation" of events on Saturday night and in previous days.

This would be carried out by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, as well as the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

PM TO DISCUSS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN WITH MET CHIEF AMID FURY AT FORCE

Boris Johnson will discuss ways to protect women and girls from violence with the head of the Metropolitan Police amid a storm of criticism over the force's handling of a vigil in memory of Sarah Everard.

The Prime Minister is expected to chair a meeting of the Government's Crime and Justice Taskforce on Monday, with Dame Cressida Dick - who has resisted calls to quit over the events - among the attendees.

In ugly scenes on Saturday, officers clashed with crowds gathered on Clapham Common to remember the 33-year-old marketing executive who went missing while walking home from a friend's flat on March 3.

Dame Cressida said what happened to Ms Everard made her "more determined, not less" to lead the organisation, and welcomed the Home Secretary's request for an independent investigation into the events over the weekend.

Priti Patel, who will be at the meeting on Monday with Justice Secretary Robert Buckland and director of public prosecutions Max Hill, has asked the chief inspector of constabulary to conduct a "lessons learned" review into the police's actions at the vigil.

SARAH EVERARD VIGIL: MET POLICE CHIEF CRESSIDA DICK DEFENDS COPS STORMING VIGIL & WON’T RESIGN DESPITE BACKLASH

MET Police chief Cressida Dick has defied calls to resign after cops stormed a vigil for Sarah Everard on Clapham Common on Saturday.

Ms Dick said she was “determined to lead” the Force following heavy criticism of the policing tactics used at the memorial. 

Read more here.

MET POLICE FEDERATION CHAIRMAN SAYS: ‘DAMNED IF WE DO, DAMNED IF WE DON’T'

Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: “Yesterday, 26 Metropolitan Police officers were assaulted – punched, kicked, spat at – policing Covid-19 lockdown laws that a democratically-elected Government have imposed… laws that the Mayor of London has called on us to enforce to keep Londoners safe.

“Now colleagues are being condemned by politicians of all parties for doing what we have been asked to do by politicians on behalf of society.

“This is not right or fair. Damned if we do. Damned if we don’t. Are we supposed to enforce Covid-19 regulations or not?

“Political leaders should be doing much more to support the police officers they have put in this impossible position.

“The thoughts of the Metropolitan Police Federation remain with the family and friends of Sarah Everard.”

SARAH EVERARD: JUST 1.4% OF RAPE ALLEGATIONS ARE PROSECUTED, ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL STATS

Just 1.4 per cent of rape allegations are prosecuted, shocking official stats show – the lowest figure on record.

Furious campaigners have warned that many victims are staying silent about their abuse because they have lost faith in the courts – with England’s courts now have a backlog of some 56,000 cases.

Labour say rape cases hang on the evidence of the victim, and leaving them to go unheard for many months or even years only harms the chances of getting a conviction.

Ministers have vowed to crack down on sexual abuse and harassment of women in the wake of Sarah’s killing. They are urging women to come forward with their experiences of abuse and ideas for change.

Home Office Minister Victoria Atkins said “nothing is off the table” when it comes to making Britain’s streets safer.

HUNT FOR CLUES

But her body was found in the woods near Ashford, Kent over a week later – with police formally identifying her the following day using dental records.

Wayne Couzens, a serving Metropolitan Police officer has been charged with Ms Everard’s murder and kidnap.

The 48-year-old appeared in court to confirm his name and address during a short hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court earlier this week.

Sarah’s family paid tribute to her in a statement released on their behalf by the Metropolitan Police, prior to her body being identified.

SARAH EVERARD COPS CORDON OFF KENT PATHWAY AFTER DISCOVERING HER BODY IN WOODLANDS 30 MILES AWAY

POLICE have sealed off a pathway in Kent as part of their ongoing investigation into the death of Sarah Everard.

Met Police detectives have cordoned a large area in Sandwich – 30 miles from the woodland where the body of the missing 33-year-old was discovered.  

Officers have been seen along a pathway next to a stream, and have set up a base in the town centre, according to Kent Online.

Police would not comment on the new area of investigation, but the local council confirmed that the pathway had been taped off. 

THE SUN SAYS THE POLICE REACTION TO SARAH EVERARD’S VIGIL WAS UTTERLY TONE DEAF

THE vigil for tragic Sarah Everard was about more than showing sympathy for, and solidarity with, the murdered marketing executive and her heartbroken family.

It was a statement, loud and clear, that for too long women have been afraid to walk the streets of Britain at night for fear of harassment or violence. And it must change.

The draconian lockdown has caused difficulties for individual officers, enforcing the removal of our precious liberties.

But having previously done nothing to stop Extinction Rebellion agitators blockading the Press or football fans celebrating, and having taken the knee with Black Lives Matter protestors, how on earth did police find themselves forcibly restraining peaceful women mourners?

These are the people charged with keeping the streets safe for those same women.

There will be more vigils. The issue of women’s safety cannot just go away.

HUNDREDS OF PROTESTERS CHANT 'SHAME ON YOU' BEFORE MARCH TO PARLIAMENT SQUARE

Hundreds of protesters have chanted "shame on you" as police officers stood guard at New Scotland Yard, before marching to Parliament Square.

Officers erected barriers around the Metropolitan Police headquarters and the group of demonstrators, many holding placards aloft, spilled over on to the road next to the River Thames.

Sisters Uncut, an organisation describing itself as a feminist group taking direct action for domestic and sexual violence services, said it would be holding the rally.

On Sunday, the group tweeted: "Police are perpetrators of individual and state violence against women - as evidenced last night.

"The police abuse the powers they already have, yet the government plans to give them even more powers in the #PoliceCrackdownBill. We must resist this."

CRESSIDA DICK DEFIES CALLS TO QUIT (CONTINUED...)

She said that "all the women and men of the Met are outraged at what has happened and they're working as hard as they can to get justice for Sarah".

"In that context, none of us would have wanted to see the scenes we saw at the end of yesterday's events," she added.

Earlier on Sunday, Priti Patel asked the Chief Inspector of Constabulary to conduct a "lessons learned" review into the events.

The Home Secretary spoke with Dame Cressida, having received her report into the police's actions at the vigil.

But "in the interest of confidence in policing" Ms Patel asked Sir Thomas Winsor to conduct an independent review into what happened, a Government source told the PA news agency.

MET CHIEF DEFIES CALLS TO QUIT OVER POLICE ACTIONS AT SARAH EVERARD VIGIL

The head of the Metropolitan Police has said she will not stand down despite calls for her to quit over her force's actions at a vigil in memory of Sarah Everard.

Dame Cressida Dick said what happened to the 33-year-old "appals me" and made her "more determined, not less" to lead the organisation.

She welcomed the Home Secretary's request for an independent investigation into the events - which she described as "fiendishly difficult policing".

Dame Cressida said: "What happened to Sarah appals me. As you know, I'm the first woman commissioner of the Met, perhaps it appals me, in a way, even more because of that. What has happened makes me more determined, not less, to lead my organisation.

"I've listened to what people have been saying in the last week, I know that in the streets all across the UK women don't feel as safe as we would all like women to feel. I am utterly determined."

PM TO CHAIR MEETING OF CRIME TASKFORCE FOLLOWING SARAH EVERARD'S DEATH

Boris Johnson has said the death of Sarah Everard must "unite us in determination" to drive out violence against women and girls.

The Prime Minister will chair a meeting of the Crime and Justice Taskforce on Monday to look at what action needs to be taken to ensure the UK's streets are safe.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick is expected to attend the meeting along with Director of Public Prosecutions Max Hill, Priti Patel and Robert Buckland.

Mr Johnson will use it to discuss the Government's strategy on violence against women and girls, securing safer streets, rape prosecutions and the criminal justice system.

OFFICERS INVESTIGATING SARAH EVERARD MURDER CORDON OFF AREA IN SANDWICH

Officers investigating the murder of Sarah Everard have cordoned off an area in the town of Sandwich, Kent.

The 33-year-old went missing while walking home from a friend's flat in south London on March 3, and her body was found on March 10.

On Sunday, Sandwich Town Council said they are in contact with Kent Police on behalf of Scotland Yard as part of the investigation.

Dan Friend, one of the town's councillors, said police had cordoned off a section of The Rope Walk, a path near the centre of the town.

On Sunday evening, officers could be seen standing at the ends of the path by the cordon, with a police van also seen in the town.

CLASH ON THE COMMON

Ugly scenes of pushing and cops grabbing hold of mourners followed with a police squad leading one detained man away from the area.

Officers linked arms as they made their way from the park pursued by protesters. Crowds cheered as officers arrived at a line of police vans with cries of "f**k the police" ringing out.

Earlier, one woman told the crowd: "The streets are ours," while a banner written in Spanish was unfurled reading "your indifference and silence kills as well", with chants of "the sisters united will never be defeated" heard.

Victims Commissioner Dame Vera Baird QC accused police of acting like a "quasi military". She told Sophy Ridge: "To push people away seems to me to be a dreadful piece of misjudgement

"Are they really improving the chances of Covid not spreading by putting their knees in the middle of the back of young women. Putting their hands in handcuffs. It didn't seem to be to be the right thing to do."

SARAH EVERARD: THE LATEST

• Sarah Everard disappeared while walking home from Clapham to Brixton, south London, last week
• The 33-year-old's body was 'found in a builder's bag in woods' in Kent 
• Met Police chief Cressida Dick faces calls to quit after officers stormed a vigil for Sarah last night
• Woman arrested at vigil slams 'disgraceful' police and calls for another protest tomorrow
• Home Secretary Priti Patel demands 'full report' over 'upsetting' arrests
• Wayne Couzens, 48, yesterday appeared in court accused of her murder and kidnap 
• He will appear at the Old Bailey on March 16 after being remanded in custody
• Boris Johnson will discuss ways to protect women and girls from violence with the head of the Metropolitan Police 

PM TO DISCUSS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN WITH MET CHIEF AMID FURY AT FORCE

Boris Johnson will discuss ways to protect women and girls from violence with the head of the Metropolitan Police amid a storm of criticism over the force's handling of a vigil in memory of Sarah Everard.

The Prime Minister is expected to chair a meeting of the Government's Crime and Justice Taskforce on Monday, with Dame Cressida Dick - who has resisted calls to quit over the events - among the attendees.

Mr Johnson said he was "deeply concerned" about the footage from the event, some of which showed police officers grabbing women and leading them away in handcuffs.

He added: "I have spoken with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner who has committed to reviewing how this was handled, and the Home Secretary has also commissioned HM Inspectorate of Constabulary to conduct a lessons learned review into the policing of the event.

"(On Monday) I will chair a meeting of the Government's Crime and Justice Taskforce to look at what further action we need to take to protect women and ensure our streets are safe. The death of Sarah Everard must unite us in determination to drive out violence against women and girls and make every part of the criminal justice system work to protect and defend them."

PATHWAY CORDONED OFF IN KENT AS PART OF PROBE

Police have sealed off a pathway in Kent as part of their ongoing investigation into the death of Sarah Everard.

Met Police detectives have cordoned a large area in Sandwich - 30 miles from the woodland where the body of the missing 33-year-old was discovered.  

Locals say that police arrived on blue lights just after 1pm on Sunday afternoon, throwing the area into lockdown.

The council statement read: "Sandwich Town Council is in contact with Kent Police on behalf of the Metropolitan Police in relation to ongoing investigations associated to the murder of Sarah Everard.

"Police have requested that residents do not gather trying to ascertain information or details.

"The police have cordoned off the Rope Walk between Malcolm Waites Garage/Cow Leas Meadow all the way through the town."

SADIQ KHAN CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION INTO HANDLING OF VIGIL

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has asked for a “full independent investigation” into the Metropolitan Police’s handling of Saturday night’s Clapham Common vigil.

"I received assurances from the Metropolitan Police last week that the vigil would be policed sensitively," he said in a statement released this afternoon.

"In my view, this was not the case."

Khan said he he was “not satisfied” with the explanation he had been given by the force’s leadership, and was now asking for a "full independent investigation" of events on Saturday night and in previous days.

This would be carried out by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, as well as the Independent Office for Police Conduct.