Two Women Win Compensation After Sarah Everard Vigil Arrests
Two women detained during the Sarah Everard vigil in Clapham Common have been awarded compensation by the Metropolitan Police. Patsy Stevenson and Dania Al-Obeid were arrested at the March 2021 event, which took place amid strict COVID-19 lockdown rules.
Police Slammed Over Heavy-Handed Crackdown
The vigil, held in memory of marketing executive Sarah Everard—murdered by serving Met officer Wayne Couzens—drew huge public outrage and was attended by hundreds, including members of the public moved to protest. However, police faced fierce criticism for their handling of the event, especially for forcefully restraining some women in the later hours. Their initial response was called “tone-deaf” and sparked widespread backlash.
Patsy Stevenson said, “It has taken over two years to reach this conclusion; it’s been a really tiring and difficult process. But it has felt important to push for some form of accountability and justice for myself and all women who attended the vigil to express our anger and grief over the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving Metropolitan Police officer.”
Event Cancelled but Public Gathered Anyway
The vigil was originally organised by campaign group Reclaim These Streets (RTS) but was cancelled after police threatened organisers with £10,000 fines under lockdown regulations. Despite this, large crowds gathered independently and peacefully for around six hours before police intervention led to clashes and arrests.
Commander Karen Findlay later acknowledged the women’s grief and anger at the tragedy and admitted the arrests curtailed their right to express these emotions.
Legal Win and Lasting Impact
RTS organisers succeeded in court, proving the Met had violated their right to protest. Dania Al-Obeid reflected bitterly, “I have felt abused, abandoned by the police prior to, during, and post the vigil – I do not feel protected or safe with any police force.”
Rachel Harger, the solicitor representing the women from Bindmans LLP, welcomed the Met’s recognition of the fundamental right to protest. She stressed protests are crucial in challenging injustice and maintaining public confidence in democracy.
