Ms Patel asked the Chief Inspector of Constabulary to conduct a “lessons learned” review after officers clashed with crowds who gathered to remember the 33-year-old on Clapham Common.
also added she wanted an “external view” on policing decisions taken in the light of Covid rules.
The London Mayor Sadiq Khan, called police actions “unacceptable and asked the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner to come into City Hall today to give me an explanation of yesterday’s events and the days leading up to them. I am not satisfied with the explanation they have provided.”
“I will now be asking Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary [HMIC] to conduct a full independent investigation of events yesterday evening and in previous days. I am also asking the Independent Office for Police Conduct [IOPC] to investigate the actions of police officers yesterday evening.”
“It is vital that these events are not allowed to undermine the powerful calls since Sarah’s murder for meaningful action to finally stop men inflicting violence on women.
“It was clear before yesterday that there isn’t adequate trust and confidence from women and girls in the police and criminal justice system more widely. Further steps must now be taken to address this.”
Dame Cressida Dick the Met Police chief , who has faced called to resign after the clashes in which her force’s officers were seen grabbing several women and leading them away in handcuffs., said she was not considering her position.
“What has happened makes me more determined, not less, to lead my organisation,” she said.
Ms Patel said she had read a report from Dame Cressida, but “questions still need to be answered”.
The home secretary added she would ask the police watchdog, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), to look into the matter.
Home Office sources said Ms Patel still had confidence in Dame Cressida.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called on Dame Cressida to resign, while Women’s Equality Party co-founder Catherine Mayer said her position was “untenable”.
The Metropolitan Police later said four people were arrested for public order and coronavirus regulation breaches.
John Lewis (Analysis Editor Newspresslive )
