Sarah Everard’s family call for her murder to ‘bring positive change’ as thousands protest vigil violence
SARAH Everard’s family yesterday called for her murder to bring positive change in protecting women.
Aunt Andrea said: “It’s not right that women don’t feel safe on the street.”
Met chief Dame Cressida Dick faced calls to quit over police handling of a vigil for Sarah in Clapham, South West London, on Saturday — close to where she vanished on March 3.
But the top cop said the death had appalled her and made her more determined to continue.
Andrea Everard said of the crowd: “All they were doing was showing support for Sarah and other women victims of appalling crime.
“I hope Sarah’s death can bring about some positive change.”
Husband Nick, Sarah’s uncle, thanked wellwishers including the Duchess of Cambridge who left flowers at the vigil.
Nick said: “We’re grateful for all the love. We appreciate that Kate went. The support is overwhelming. Thank you to everybody.”
The couple, Sarah’s parents Jeremy and Sue and siblings James and Kate also plan to pay tribute at the Common.
It came as thousands of protesters descended on Parliament Square yesterday as fury erupted after police manhandled women holding a candlelit vigil for tragic Sarah Everard.
Officers were accused of being heavy-handed as scuffles broke out on Saturday night.
Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick — Britain’s most senior police officer — despite calls for her to quit.
Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel backed her to continue after holding talks with her.
Dame Cressida was asked to provide an urgent report into the shocking scenes on Clapham Common, South London, near to where 33-year-old marketing executive Sarah was abducted.
Met armed officer Wayne Couzens, 48, has been charged and remanded in custody accused of Sarah’s kidnap and murder.
Dame Cressida, 60 — the Met’s first woman commissioner — said what happened to Sarah “appals me”, but added that it made her “more determined, not less” to continue leading the London force.
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”.
Cops trying to enforce Covid restrictions were filmed grabbing several women from a bandstand area where megaphones were being used to address hundreds of people.
The vigil — intended to raise awareness of female safety in the wake of marketing executive Sarah’s murder — descended into chaos.
With bitter irony, shocking images from cameraphones showed burly male officers handcuffing and dragging women away. Four women were arrested for public order and coronavirus regulation breaches.
Footage showed one woman being shoved in the back by two officers after being lifted from her knees.
The woman, who had not yet been identified, was shoved again as she tried to bend down while telling officers she was trying to retrieve her glasses.
Earlier, people had laid flowers peacefully in tribute to Sarah.
Police moved in after a group began using megaphones to address the crowd in contravention of Covid rules.
Home Office Minister Victoria Atkins said the scenes were “very upsetting”.
She said Dame Cressida would have to “explain” a shocking photo showing male cops wrestling peaceful, petite young women to the ground at the vigil.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey had called on Dame Cressida to resign, while Women’s Equality Party co-founder Catherine Mayer said the commissioner’s position was “untenable”.
Yesterday demonstrators chanted “shame on you” as cops stood guard at New Scotland Yard, before moving to Westminster.
The crowd clapped when an announcer said everyone was there to remember Sarah and a minute of silence was held, during which the protesters lay on the ground.
The Met last night said there had been no arrests at the Westminster protest and the event appeared to end peacefully.
Boris Johnson said he was “deeply concerned” about Saturday’s scenes as he vowed to make Britain’s streets safe for all women.
The PM said Sarah’s death must unite the nation in the battle to “drive out violence against women and girls”.
He will today gather senior ministers, police and the Crown Prosecution Service to discuss how to protect women and ensure that streets are safe.
Men can help stop the pests
By Rose Caldwell, CEO of Plan International UK
BOYS and men have a crucial role to play in making our streets safer for women and girls.
This includes giving girls space when walking down the street and not engaging in catcalling, to calling out toxic attitudes and behaviour.
They can also be supportive by stepping in, if safe to do so, when they witness public sexual harassment.
If they feel threatened or perceive someone is in immediate danger they should call 999.
We are campaigning to criminalise all public sexual harassment so girls and women can live without fear.
We need the support of men and boys to make this a reality.
Mrs Patel said: “The Home Office survey on tackling violence against women and girls has received an unprecedented 53,000 responses since it reopened on Friday and I’d urge everyone to give us their views.”
Sarah’s death unleashed a national wave of angst which led to Saturday’s unofficial vigil.
An official one planned by Reclaim These Streets was called off after police warned they were under obligation to stop it under government Covid legislation.
Mrs Patel will today give a statement to the Commons over the Met’s actions on Saturday.
She has asked Sir Tom Winsor, Chief Inspector of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services to review the policing of the event.
Dame Cressida welcomed the move calling it “good for public confidence”.
She added: “What we do in one event sets precedent for other events. I’m really comfortable that we review what happened.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan, accused the Met of tearing up a vow to police the vigil sensitively.
He called for the Independent Office for Police Conduct to launch a probe into the actions at the vigil, calling the scenes “completely unacceptable”.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “I was very disturbed to see the police action. I think it was wrong. I’m pleased it is now going to be reviewed.
But he added: “I do not think Cressida Dick should resign, I think we need to see the reports that have now been called for.”
National Police Chiefs’ Council Chair Martin Hewitt said: “No woman should feel unsafe — at home or on the streets — but far too many do.”
The Sun says
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 Duchess of Cambridge’s personal visit to lay flowers on Clapham Common, independent of any royal duty, made the point as powerfully as any mass protest could.
When our future Queen reveals she too has felt fear walking alone, the extent of the crisis could not be more glaring.
The police reaction to the vigil, by contrast, was utterly tone deaf.
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.