UK police criticized for clashes at vigil

LONDON－Police in London drew widespread criticism on Saturday after handcuffing mourners at a vigil for a woman who was murdered after setting out to walk home, in a case that has sparked a national debate about violence against women.

Officers scuffled with members of the hundreds-strong crowd that gathered despite coronavirus restrictions for a candle-lit tribute close to the spot where 33-year-old marketing executive Sarah Everard disappeared on March 3.

Reclaim These Streets, which initially organized the event in south London's Clapham, condemned the actions of officers "physically manhandling women at a vigil against male violence".

Social media footage showed police restraining and handcuffing some mourners, leading to an outpouring of criticism.

Both Home Secretary Priti Patel and London mayor Sadiq Khan said they had asked for explanations from the Metropolitan police over how the vigil was handled.

The murder of Everard, who vanished after setting out to walk home from a friend's flat, has shocked the country and brought discussion around women's safety to the fore once again.

Organizers canceled the vigil after police outlawed it because of COVID-19 restrictions, but hundreds still turned out, with tensions overspilling as Saturday night fell.

Mourners shouted "shame on you "at police, with tensions running high as a man arrested in connection with Everard's murder is a police officer.

Opposition Labour MP Harriet Harman condemned the "terrible "scenes at Clapham in a tweet, adding: "Met mishandled vigil plan from the outset. They should have reached agreement."

Caroline Nokes, the conservative chair of the women and equalities committee, said she was "truly shocked－in this country we police by consent, not by trampling the tributes and dragging women to the ground".

Wayne Couzens, 48, appeared in court earlier on Saturday charged with kidnap and murder following his arrest at his home in Kent, southeastern England. The victim's body was discovered in a nearby wood.

Agencies via Xinhua