Read time: 6 mins
By Paul Stephens, Extinction Rebellion Police Liaison
As I watched the footage of police wrestling women to the ground and cuffing them at a peaceful vigil for the death of Sarah Everard, whilst a serving police officer was charged with her kidnap and murder, I felt horror, embarrassment, sympathy for those being abused at a vigil and also empathy for all the good police officers who I know would feel outraged. As a retired Detective Sergeant and police liaison for Extinction Rebellion, and having witnessed the use of COVID-19 regulations being stretched beyond their limit in order to minimise protest, I could not help feeling that this policing media car crash on Clapham Common was inevitable, but I had never imagined this level of insensitivity and stupidity.
Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, who defended the police’s actions by arguing they were proportionate with concerns over the spread of COVID-19, was heavily criticised by members of the public, as well as Home Secretary Priti Patel and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. Yet days later, MPs passed the Police Crime Sentencing and Courts bill – legislation that will hand police the power to put conditions on processions, assemblies and now single protesters, based upon what they decide is a relevant impact.
