The Metropolitan Police's handling of a vigil in south London to mourn Sarah Everard has been widely criticised across the political spectrum. Home Secretary Priti Patel has asked the Met for a report on what happened, while London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was "urgently seeking an explanation" from Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick.
Officers were seen handcuffing and leading women away from the event. Police said four arrests were made at the vigil to "protect people's safety".
Several hundred people gathered on Clapham Common on Saturday evening to pay tribute to 33-year-old - whose death has prompted a public debate over women's safety - despite Covid restrictions. The official vigil had been called off earlier in the day after organisers said the force had failed to "constructively engage" on how it could be held in a Covid-secure way.
One video posted online showed officers removing women who were standing by the bandstand. Cries of "shame on you" and "let them go" could be heard from onlookers. The video showed them being put in a police van and driven away.
Jamie Klingler, from Reclaim These Streets, which had been organising the official vigil, said the event would have been "a lot safer" if it had been held officially, adding the group had 50 stewards who were "trained and ready to go. We told the Met that it was going to be worse if we didn't have the organisation that we already had planned that was Covid-safe," she said.
The group added in a statement that it was "deeply saddened and angered" by the police's actions and criticised officers for "physically manhandling women at a vigil against male violence".
"It is their responsibility to protect public order, public health and the right to protest - they failed tonight on all accounts," the group added in a statement. The Met said it was the "only responsible thing" for them to do to ensure public safety. The force added that a review will be carried out to see if "lessons can be learned".
Politicians from across the spectrum have criticised the Met's response to the vigil. Ms Patel called footage on social media "upsetting" and said she had asked the Metropolitan Police for a full report on what happened.
Home Office minister Victoria Atkins called the scenes; "incredibly upsetting", adding that it was "right" the force "explain their actions - both to the democratically elected politicians and the public". She said the government hopes to be "hearing explanations" from Dame Cressida in the hours and days to come.
Asked whether the Met Police commissioner should leave her post, Ms Atkins added: "I really, really want to support the home secretary in her request to have a report from Cressida.
Labour's Shadow Domestic Violence Minister, Jess Phillips, said the force had "got it wrong at every single turn". She said: "There are a million ways that could have been organised, but the police put their foot down before they put their boot in and at every stage they made the wrong call."
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said: “The scenes were unacceptable and I am urgently seeking an explanation from the commissioner. The police have a responsibility to enforce Covid laws but from images I've seen it's clear the response was at times neither appropriate nor proportionate."
Victims Commissioner for England and Wales Dame Vera Baird QC said there was no real prospect of police successfully intervening in the crowd in Clapham. She said: "Are they really improving the chances of Covid not spreading by putting their knees in the middle of the back of young women and putting their hands in handcuffs?"
Among those who took part in the doorstep vigil were Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his fiancée, Carrie Symonds, who lit a candle and placed it in front of No 10. Earlier, Mr Johnson tweeted that he would "be thinking of her family and friends", adding: "I will do everything I can to make sure the streets are safe." Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted a picture of a candle in her home, which she said was "for Sarah", while Wales's First Minister Mark Drakeford encouraged people to "ignite a fire for change".
Met Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball said hundreds of people were "packed tightly together", posing a risk of transmitting Covid-19. "Police must act for people's safety, this is the only responsible thing to do," she said in a statement. "We absolutely did not want to be in a position where enforcement action was necessary. But we were placed in this position because of the over-riding need to protect people's safety."
Met Police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with Ms Everard's kidnap and murder and was remanded in custody to appear again at the Old Bailey on 16 March.
