to send out to women, in particular, who have been saying over the last week, "the streets are lawless. "men can say and do what they want to women and the criminaljustice "system doesn't help..." it is the most appalling parody that we are left this morning with photographs of police officers with their knee on the back of young women, whilst they handcuffed them, at what was indeed intended to be... and was, i think, throughout, a peaceful demonstration. in breach of the regulation... in their defence, the metropolitan police are saying that there were hundreds of people gathered there, that there was a risk of spreading covid—19. what do you say to that? i don't know how you restrict the impact of spreading covid—19 by arresting and dealing with it the way that they did. my understanding is that there were other places — i think notably the west midlands — where the same sequence happened. somebody organised, the police said, no, it couldn't go ahead, they cancelled. but nonetheless, you know, emotions were very high, people felt very strongly that they wanted to make a point for sarah everard and they still went. and in the west midlands my understanding was that there were a lot of people there. they were... they were under control, they had a vigil, they had a moment's silence and the police were nowhere to be seen. they were there, but they made no impression on it at all. they simply saw, "the people are here, it is too late. "let's just stand by." and that is exactly what happened. it's what happened in my local park as well, my friends tell me. the police attended, they watched something happen and just didn't intervene because, you know, what can you do? you have tried to stop it, it hasn't been stopped. taking quasi—military tactics like circling the bandstand around, which everybody, you knows, which everybody, you know, has put their posies of flowers in memory of sarah everard, trampled and then cut off from it... you know, it is very productive way of going forward. you know, it is very provocative way of going forward. it is a shame. it's a shame, you say. does that mean that cressida dick, the metropolitan police commissioner, should resign? there are a lot of people calling for her head now. would that make sense? it wouldn't be my place to do that, and of course in the end she carries the can for whatever goes wrong, but it seems to me that the difference between what happened in my local park, according to my friends, and what happened on clapham common, seems to indicate there was some local influence over how this was policed as well, so i think the right thing to do is to say, "the police have a difficultjob. "they didn't do this one very well." the home secretary wants to know what happened. let's wait until we all see that and let's hope the home secretary thinks it right and proper to let that statement of what happened come into the public domain because there are a lot of people who are angry about this now, who do see it as a gross parody that male police officers were violent to women who are complaining about male violence against women. so people will need to know what has been said, what the justifications are and what the home secretary's view of it is. dame vera baird hair, the victims commissionerfor dame vera baird hair, the victims commissioner for england and wales. you're watching bbc news. good afternoon. the metropolitan police commissioner, dame cressida dick, is under pressure this afternoon over how her officers handled a vigil in memory of sarah everard — the 33—year—old woman whose body was found in woodland days after she disappeared. police intervened to break up the vigil and made several arrests at the event on clapham common, in south london, close to where sarah was last seen alive. the met has defended its approach saying with so many people crowded together there was a risk of spreading coronavirus. this report from our home editor mark easton contains flash photography. within moments of being taken, this picture of the lease holding down a picture of the lease holding down a picture —— woman on clapham common became a symbol of female defiance against male aggression. figs became a symbol of female defiance against male aggression. as darkness descended on — against male aggression. as darkness descended on the _ against male aggression. as darkness descended on the vigil _ against male aggression. as darkness descended on the vigil in _ against male aggression. as darkness descended on the vigil in memory - against male aggression. as darkness descended on the vigil in memory of. descended on the vigil in memory of sarah everard, what had been a peaceful of female solidarity turned ugly. police moved in to disperse the crowd, there was pushing and shoving with a number of women taken away in handcuffs. four of them were arrested for public order and coronavirus regulation breaches, among them this woman. the? coronavirus regulation breaches, among them this woman. they put me in handcuffs. — among them this woman. they put me in handcuffs, beautiful— among them this woman. they put me in handcuffs, beautifulwomen - in handcuffs, beautiful women standing with me, one of them, the pictures circulating, she was thrown to the floor had police officers on her back with their knees and feet. the police say they had to act for public safety reasons. i personally didn't see anyone _ public safety reasons. i personally didn't see anyone being _ public safety reasons. i personally didn't see anyone being at - public safety reasons. i personally didn't see anyone being at risk. i public safety reasons. i personally| didn't see anyone being at risk. as i was sat in the van, i was thinking, _ i was sat in the van, i was thinking, gosh, alli i was sat in the van, i was thinking, gosh, all i wanted was to stand _ thinking, gosh, all i wanted was to stand with — thinking, gosh, all i wanted was to stand with other women, and the fear that has_ stand with other women, and the fear that has been brewing for years from a very— that has been brewing for years from a very young age, we are harassed and we _ a very young age, we are harassed and we are — a very young age, we are harassed and we are aware of the abuse and violence _ and we are aware of the abuse and violence against women. the and we are aware of the abuse and violence against women.— and we are aware of the abuse and violence against women. the side of women who — violence against women. the side of women who had _ violence against women. the side of women who had come _ violence against women. the side of women who had come together - violence against women. the side of women who had come together to l violence against women. the side of- women who had come together to stand against male violence being manhandled has led to a chorus of criticism across the political spectrum. the home secretary described the footage is upsetting and demanded a full report from scotland yard, the labour mayor of london city can call the scene is unacceptable, the leader of the liberal democrats was among those demanding the metropolitan police commissioner dame cressida dick resigned. the commissioner dame cressida dick resiuned. , ., , ~ resigned. the focus of this weekend should be on _ resigned. the focus of this weekend should be on sarah _ resigned. the focus of this weekend should be on sarah everard - resigned. the focus of this weekend should be on sarah everard and - resigned. the focus of this weekend should be on sarah everard and her| should be on sarah everard and her family but it is right also that the police explain their actions. police ut their police explain their actions. police put their foot _ police explain their actions. police put their foot down _ police explain their actions. police put their foot down before - police explain their actions. police put their foot down before the - police explain their actions. police put their foot down before the their buiietin— put their foot down before the their bulletin and at every stage they made _ bulletin and at every stage they made the wrong call. the metropolitan _ made the wrong call. the metropolitan police - made the wrong call. tie: metropolitan police were made the wrong call. tte: metropolitan police were already being investigated for their handling of events surrounding the sarah everard murder inquiry, last night after midnight a senior officer emerged to defend their approach to the vigil, insisting they had to enforce the law. police must act for _ they had to enforce the law. police must act for people's _ they had to enforce the law. police must act for people's safety, - they had to enforce the law. police must act for people's safety, this | must act for people's safety, this is the only responsible thing to do. the pandemic is not over. gatherings of hundreds of people from right across london and beyond are still not safe. , . ., not safe. there is evidence to su: est not safe. there is evidence to suggest some _ not safe. there is evidence to suggest some of— not safe. there is evidence to suggest some of those - not safe. there is evidence to suggest some of those who i not safe. there is evidence to - suggest some of those who attended the vigil had been looking for trouble and the police have been criticised before for not intervening in protests during the pandemic, notably by the home secretary. at the death of sarah everard sparked an outpouring of anguish that required most delicate sympathetic handling, met stands accused of getting it badly wrong. mark easton, bbc news. around two million vulnerable people are being sent texts from nhs england this weekend, urging them to book their coronavirus vaccination. those with pre—existing medical conditions such as diabetes and certain types of cancer who have not yet received a letter from their gp will be able to make an appointment via a link. here's our health correspondent anna collinson. keira lawrence has a learning disability, she was nervous about getting vaccinated so on the day, told the nurse. t getting vaccinated so on the day, told the nurse.— getting vaccinated so on the day, told the nurse. i told her| did not like needles _ told the nurse. i told her| did not like needles and _ told the nurse. i told her| did not like needles and sheep _ told the nurse. i told her| did not like needles and sheep prepared l told the nurse. i told her| did not| like needles and sheep prepared it away from me and she came from behind me and as she was doing it, my husband was there to talk to me and distract me. my message for those people who are afraid of having the jab is don't be worried, don't be scared,.— don't be scared,. there are calls for millions _ don't be scared,. there are calls for millions more _ don't be scared,. there are calls for millions more vulnerable - don't be scared,. there are calls . for millions more vulnerable people with underlying health conditions to follow her lead. more than 7 million people are in group six and have been prioritised because they are more likely to become seriously unwell from coronavirus. the group includes those with underlying health conditions like cancer and heart disease, their carers and people with learning disabilities. as part of a renewed call to help some of the most vulnerable, leading charities including mencap have published an open letter urging them to consider booking their coronavirus jab. overall more than 23 million people have now been vaccinated but there still a long way to go. this morning, the republic of ireland announced it was suspending using the oxford astrazeneca jab after four people in norway developed blood clots. the uk regulator insists available evidence did not suggest the vaccine was the cause. the vaccine roll—out has been a success but that doesn't mean covid—i9 will not continue to pose a threat. taste covid-19 will not continue to pose a threat. ~ ., _, , , , threat. we need to recognise this is a virus that — threat. we need to recognise this is a virus that is _ threat. we need to recognise this is a virus that is not _ threat. we need to recognise this is a virus that is not going _ threat. we need to recognise this is a virus that is not going to - threat. we need to recognise this is a virus that is not going to go - threat. we need to recognise this is a virus that is not going to go away| a virus that is not going to go away and i have no doubt that in the autumn, there will be a further wave of infections. 50 autumn, there will be a further wave of infections-— of infections. so as restrictions continue to _ of infections. so as restrictions continue to be _ of infections. so as restrictions continue to be lifted, - of infections. so as restrictions continue to be lifted, like - of infections. so as restrictions continue to be lifted, like the l continue to be lifted, like the reopening of schools in england this week, the scientific community will be watching the data closely for any causes for concern. anna collinson, bbc news. the british—iranian woman, nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe, who has just completed a five—year prison sentence in tehran, has again appeared in court to face new charges. she's accused of propaganda against iran, including taking part in a demonstration in london 12 years ago. our world affairs correspondent caroline hawleyjoins me now. caroline, what happened in court? we know it lasted little more than 20 minutes, we know nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe spent the day yesterday trying to get hold of her lawyer, she managed to do that late at night and was told she needed to appear at at night and was told she needed to appearat 9am, she at night and was told she needed to appear at 9am, she was extremely stressed because she suffers from ptsd as the result of her ordeal. we know the british embassy did not attend, richard radcliffe had wanted them to but iran does not recognise dual nationality so the lawyer gave her defence, afterwards he said he hoped she would be acquitted because she's already served five years on a more serious charge than this. we understand she was told the verdict would be in seven days. we have had quite a strong statement from the foreign secretary say it is a wholly arbitrary case, unacceptable to continue it, that the iranians are deliberately inflicting cruel and inhumane, a cruel and deliberately inflicting cruel and inhumane, a crueland inhumane ordeal on nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe. when will this end? we really don't know, it depends what kind of sentence she gets and her husband richard says this is not a real court process, she is being held as diplomatic leverage. caroline, thank you. a report by mps says the british army's tanks and armed vehicles are in a "deplorable" state which would see us outgunned in any conflict. the report says the ministry of defence has squandered hundreds of millions of pounds partly because of �*bureaucratic procrastination and military indecision'. our defence correspondent jonathan beale reports. borisjohnson says the upcoming defence review will end an era of retreat and transform britain's armed forces. but this report raises serious questions as to whether the ministry of defence can deliver on that promise. mps say the army's ageing fleet of tanks and armoured vehicles are in a deplorable state, outmatched and outgunned by both allies and potential adversaries. what we are seeing is a diminution in our conventional hard power capability, our ability to do expeditionary warfare. we have an obligation to nato to provide a war fighting division, we now can't really do that any more. the report says the mod has already squandered large amounts of money with little to show for it. the mod spent £400 million to modernise hundreds of these warrior armoured vehicles, but now the entire programme is expected to be scrapped. mps describe it as a woeful story of bureaucratic procrastination, military indecision, financial mismanagement, and general ineptitude. i welcome any plan to modernise the army's equipment, certainly over the years, some of it has been neglected and that's long overdue, but by modernising for example a tank, you've got to be very careful that you don't produce a really exquisite piece of equipment but don't necessarily have it in enough numbers or don't have enough people to crew those vehicles. the mod insists a significant increase in funding for defence will deliver an upgraded armour force to meet the threats of the future but the defence review is still expected to cut the number of tanks and armoured vehicles. mps say the army's armoured capabilities today are at risk of being denuded on the promise of technically advanced jam tomorrow. jonathan beale, bbc news. the american boxer, marvin hagler, has died at the age of 66. known to fans as marvellous marvin, he became the undisputed middleweight world champion in 1980, dominating the division through most of the decade. he's widely considered to be one of boxing's all—time greats. that's it. the next news on bbc one is at 5:30 this afternoon — bye for now. hello. this is bbc news with tim willcox. the number of new coronavirus cases is increasing in many european countries, as a third wave of the pandemic gathers momentum. some argue it's because eu countries are not vaccinating their populations quickly enough. meanwhile, voters in two german states will choose new regional governments today — where the christian democrats have been criticised for the rising infection rates. aru na iyengar reports. germans are frustrated with the sluggish coronavirus vaccine roll—out, supply shortages, excessive bureaucracy and, in the last week, resignations within the cdu due to a face mask procurement scandal. health officials say the number of new infections went up by a third compared to a week ago. there were more than 12,500 new infections on friday. chancellor angela merkel, in power since 2005, is not seeking re—election in september. her cdu party has a battle on its hands in baden—wurttemberg and rhineland—palatinate. it will be an early test of the christian democrats' prospects of retaining power in a federal vote later this year. italy, with the second highest toll in europe after britain, is bringing in additional restrictions on monday. shops, restaurants and schools will close in most of the country and a national lockdown is planned for the easter weekend at the beginning of next month. poland reported more than 21,000 new cases on saturday — the biggest increase in more than three months. france hopes to exceed its target of getting 10 million people vaccinated by mid—april, according to prime ministerjean castex, after the country's death toll passed 90,000 on friday. meanwhile, dutch voters head to the polls next week in a major test of a european government's coronavirus policies in 2021, with prime minster mark rutte on course to win a fourth term in office. aruna iyengar, bbc news. more now on our top story, and ministers say they are waiting for the metropolitan police to "explain their actions," after clashes with women during a vigilfor sarah everard in south london last night. dame cressida dick is facing calls to resign, after officers handcuffed and dragged women away. sir peter fahy is the former chief constable of greater manchester police. hejoins us now. would you have policed it like that? he joins us now. would you have policed it like that?— policed it like that? well, i think- -- — policed it like that? well, i think... it's _ policed it like that? well, i think... it's an _ policed it like that? well, i think... it's an impossible | think... it's an impossible situation, really, because of the confusion over the legislation. i think in pleasing terms the legislation seems pretty clear. you can't be outside exc