London police under pressure over clashes at women’s protest

LONDON (AP) — London’s Metropolitan Police force is under heavy pressure to explain the way officers treated some protesters during a vigil for a woman whom one of the same force’s officers is accused of murdering. Hundreds defied coronavirus restrictions to gather and protest violence against women, but Saturday’s vigil ended with clashes between police and those attending. Home Secretary Priti Patel said scenes from the vigil were “upsetting” and the capital’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, said the police response was “at times neither appropriate nor proportionate.” Police said “enforcement action was necessary” because of the overriding need to protect people from spreading COVID-19. Sarah Everard disappeared March 3. Her remains were found earlier this week in woodland.