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.