Met Police 'considering judgement' before appealing High Court decision on Sarah Everard vigil

The Met Police has said they are considering appealing the High Court's judgement that they breached the rights of organisers of a vigil for Sarah Everard.

In a ruling on Friday, two senior judges upheld their claim, finding that the Met’s decisions in the run up to the event were “not in accordance with the law”.

The High Court was told that senior officers in the force considered that “perceived reputational risk”, rather than public health, was the biggest “threat” when the force decided to “effectively veto” the vigil.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe said: “We are considering the judgement very carefully before deciding whether to appeal the court’s decision.

“The Met is mindful that this judgement has potential implications in other circumstances for how a proportionality assessment is to be carried out when considering enforcement action.

“This may apply beyond policing the pandemic. Even in the context of the regulations that kept us safe during the pandemic, this may have important consequences.

“The Met unreservedly endorses the principle that fundamental freedoms, such as those exercised by the claimants in this case, may only be restricted where it is necessary and proportionate for a lawful purpose.

“Consideration of an appeal is in no way indicative that the Met do not consider such protections to be of the utmost importance.

“It is, however, incumbent on the Met to ensure that this judgement does not unduly inhibit its ability, and that of police forces across the country, to effectively balance competing rights in a way that is operationally deliverable.”

Assistant Commissioner Rolfe added: “I remain deeply saddened by the murder of Sarah Everard and utterly disgusted that it was a serving Met officer who took her life.

“That sadness is shared by colleagues across the Met.

“We know the impact this terrible crime has had on our communities and recognise that the vigil on Clapham Common on March 13 2021, organised to remember Sarah, was intended to give people the opportunity to express themselves.

“We know how strongly people felt in wanting to come together and have their voices heard.”

She continued: “The Met worked very hard in challenging circumstances to interpret and apply the regulations lawfully and proportionately, despite numerous changes during the pandemic.”