Last March, I watched as police stormed a peaceful vigil – grabbing mourners, shoving them to the ground and leading them away in handcuffs. It was the most terrified I’ve ever been, and I hadn’t expected it, having attended the event at Clapham Common in London to pay my respects to Sarah Everard.
Sarah was kidnapped and murdered by a serving Metropolitan Police officer, Wayne Couzens. Couzens was jailed for life in September 2021.
Four people were due before magistrates today after being charged by the Metropolitan Police with allegedly breaking COVID lockdown rules at the vigil. The defendants are said to have been part of an unlawful gathering “without reasonable excuse”, though full details of the allegations are yet to be released.
