PM has 'full confidence' in Met Police chief despite 'very distressing' vigil scenes

Boris Johnson has given his full backing to the head of the Metropolitan Police but admitted the chaos at Saturday night’s vigil for Sarah Everard was “very distressing”.

Cressida Dick has faced calls to resign over her force’s handling of events at Clapham Common in south London, after police were seen grabbing several women and leading them away in handcuffs.

But, speaking to reporters in Coventry on Monday, the prime minister said he supported Dame Cressida.

When asked if he had full confidence in the Met Police chief, Mr Johnson replied: “Yes, I do. And what she’s asked is we look at what happened on Saturday night.

“The police do have a very, very difficult job, but there’s no question that the scenes that we saw were very distressing.

“So it’s right Tom Winsor [Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary] should do a full report into it.

“I think people have got to have confidence in the police and Tom’s going to be looking at that.”

People had gathered informally for Saturday’s vigil after an event organised by Reclaim These Streets was cancelled following talks with the Met Police, which said it would be in breach of coronavirus rules.

Four people were arrested for public order and coronavirus regulation breaches.

The prime minister spoke to Dame Cressida on Sunday and said he had been “very concerned” about the images he saw from the night before.

“I think a lot of people were concerned about that,” he added.

“The reality is the country is united still in shock and grief about what happened to Sarah Everard.

“We must do everything we can to find the answers.”

Dame Cressida will attend a meeting of the government’s crime and justice taskforce on Monday evening to look at what further action can be taken to protect women and girls and make sure streets are safe.

The meeting is also expected to be attended by the prime minister, Home Secretary Priti Patel, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland and Max Hill, the director of public prosecutions.

Mr Johnson said Ms Everard’s death – after she vanished while walking home from a friend’s house in south London on 3 March – had “unleashed a wave of feeling from people, from women above all, who do worry about their safety at night”.

“The fundamental thing is that women have got to feel that when they make a complaint, when they go to the police with an account or an allegation of violence or harassment, that they will be taken seriously,” he added.

“So our teams are meeting tonight to discuss what more we can do.”

The prime minister also pointed to the government’s promise to recruit 20,000 new police officers in England and Wales, as well as its Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

The legislation – which was due to be debated by MPs in the House of Commons later on Monday – includes new measures to toughen sentences for rapists, to stop the early release of serious sexual and violent offenders, and to toughen the law on domestic violence, Mr Johnson said.

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