It added that “public confidence in the Metropolitan Police suffered as a result of the vigil,” and noted the effect of the images of the officers arresting women. “A more conciliatory response after the event might have served the Met’s interests better,” investigators said. One line in the report was particularly critical of the “chorus of those condemning the Metropolitan Police, and calling for the resignation of the commissioner, within hours of the arrests,” which it called unwarranted. Ms. Dick had at the time called it “fiendishly difficult policing” and said she wouldn’t have wanted to see a vigil in memory of Ms. Everard end with such scenes. She said she welcomed the review as she said that confidence in London’s police force was still “far too low.”

Source: New York Times March 30, 2021 11:49 UTC