Met Police to Pay Damages to Woman Arrested at Sarah Everard Vigil
10,000 Pound Settlement for Breach of Human Rights
By PA News Agency, Victoria Jones
The Metropolitan Police has reached an agreement to pay £10,000 in damages to a woman who was arrested at the Sarah Everard vigil in Clapham. The settlement comes after Jennifer Edmunds filed a lawsuit against the police for breaching her human rights.
Edmunds was arrested at the vigil on March 13, 2021, after refusing to disperse when ordered to do so by police. She was held in custody for several hours and charged with obstructing an officer.
However, the charges against Edmunds were eventually dropped. She then filed a lawsuit against the police, alleging that her arrest was unlawful and that she had been denied her right to freedom of assembly and expression.
The Metropolitan Police has now agreed to settle the lawsuit, paying Edmunds £10,000 in damages. The force has also agreed to review its policies on the use of force at protests.
Edmunds' attorney, Harriet Wistrich, said that the settlement was a "victory for women's rights and for the right to protest." She added that the police "must be held accountable for their actions."
The Metropolitan Police said that it "regrets the distress caused to Ms. Edmunds" and that it is "committed to learning from this incident."
Comments