Sarah Everard vigil: Boris Johnson ‘deeply concerned,’ to meet police chief Cressida Dick
- 15 Mar 2021
Gulf Today Report
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to meet Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick on Monday as the police chief continues to face calls to resign over her force’s handling of a vigil held in memory of Sarah Everard on Saturday.
A police officer walks past a lit candle on the step of the official residence of PM at 10 Downing Street. AFP
Johnson, who said he was left “deeply concerned” after seeing footage of police officers cracking down on Saturday’s vigil, is expected to chair a meeting of the Government’s Crime and Justice Taskforce with Ms Dick, who has so far rejected calls to step down.
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The prime minister is expected to discuss how to better protect women and girls from violencewith the Met Police commissioner and other attendees.
Hundreds of people gathered outside Scotland Yard and in Parliament Square yesterday to demand justice for Sarah, and an end to violence against women and girls, according to the Independent.
A sign is seen in Clapham Common Bandstand, following the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard, in London. Reuters
Many also demonstrated against the government’s new policing bill, which seeks to give police and the home secretary new powers over public gatherings and processions.
Earlier, Labour MP for Croydon Central and Shadow Minister for Policing and the Fire Service Sarah Jones has said she believes the government has been “ignoring violence against women”.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Monday, Ms Jones said she believed it was time for the government to take action, rather than only discussing the need to address violence against women and girls.
“The time has come to do something about violence against women and girls because all of the numbers are going in the wrong direction,” Ms Jones said.
“It’s time for action now, not time for more talking,” she said.