Social media has been flooded with calls for Cressida Dick to step down
Cressida Dick is facing calls to resign from her role as Metropolitan Police Commissioner over the force’s response to Saturday night’s vigil for Sarah Everard.
The vigil, which was held in Clapham Common in South London, saw hundreds gather peacefully to pay their respects to Sarah, who went missing on Wednesday of last week while walking home from a friend’s home. A serving Met police officer has been charged with her kidnap and murder.
The large police presence around Saturday’s vigil was deemed by many as unnecessary and officers have also been accused of being heavy handed and using disproportionate force in handcuffing women who were in attendance.
Footage of the police’s actions has been widely shared and condemned on social media in the time since. As well as the hashtag #ArrestYourOwn trending on Twitter in the UK, there were also calls for Dick to stand down.
Safeguarding Minister Victroria Atkins also refused to support Dick remaining in her current role. Appearing on Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Sky News, she said: “The scenes that we have seen are very upsetting. I take it very seriously, the Home Secretary takes it very seriously, which is why she has asked the Metropolitan Commissioner for a report on what has happened last night.”
Asked directly if she would if she would back her to continue in her role, Atkins added: “I really, really want to support the Home Secretary in her request to have a report from Cressida.
“The police have got a tough job in policing the coronavirus pandemic more generally at the moment.”
She later added: “I think this morning given how difficult last night was, after what has been an incredibly upsetting week, I’m very keen that we don’t pre-empt that report and we give the Met Commissioner a chance to explain what happened last night.”
