12:08 EDT, 17 March 2021
A top Met Police boss has today defended the actions of officers at the Sarah Everard vigil saying they were 'doing their duty', after the force faced accusations of heavy-handedness.
Deputy Commissioner Sir Stephen House claimed police had faced abuse and had plastic water bottles thrown at them after asking crowds to disperse from Saturday's memorial event at Clapham Common.
He refused to apologise on behalf of officers, who he said had acted 'professionally and proportionately'.
Sir Stephen said the vigil had complied with Covid rules during the day, but had become 'compacted' in the evening as more people gathered.