Ex-Brighton police chief Kevin Moore's view on vigil arrests

Former Detective Chief Superintendent Kevin Moore blasted politicians for failing to stand up for officers trying to enforce coronavirus lockdown rules.

Mr Moore, who was previously Brighton and Hove’s divisional commander, said there was no context shown over arrests made of those attending vigils in memory of Sarah Everard at the weekend.

At Clapham in London thousands gathered at the bandstand and the Metropolitan Police was criticised for a heavy-handed approach.

Home Secretary Priti Patel called for reports to be made, while London Mayor Sadiq Khan said there were questions to answer.

Meanwhile in Brighton, Sussex Police was criticised for a similar approach, with footage showing an 18-year-old man being arrested, and a young woman being detained and led away from a vigil at Valley Gardens on Saturday evening.

Brighton vigil Sarah Everard

Mr Moore said: “Anybody watching the events of last weekend could be forgiven for thinking that the police were indeed heavy-handed in their approach to policing the so-called vigils.

“As is usual with the media, there was no context provided. In one incident we saw a red-haired woman pinned to the ground, but we did not see what preceded this in order to prompt the police reaction in this way.

“It comes as no surprise to the majority of us because a logical explanation of an event does not make a good story.”

Images show the vigil held in Valley Gardens, Brighton, where police made one arrest and issued eight fines for people breaking coronavirus public health emergency rules not to attend gathings

Mr Moore, who previously also led Sussex Police’s CID section, said the alleged kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard was an “unusual event”.

Wayne Couzens, 48, of Deal in Kent, appeared in court accused of her murder and kidnap this week. He faces trial at The Old Bailey in October.

The incident has sparked protests about men’s violence towards women, and the police response to vigils held in Ms Everard’s memory.

Images show the vigil held in Valley Gardens, Brighton, where police made one arrest and issued eight fines for people breaking coronavirus public health emergency rules not to attend gathings

But Mr Moore said: “People and in this case mainly women, have a right to express their concerns and ensure that the issues are brought to the attention of the government.

“They also have a right to hold an event, a vigil, in order to show support and solidarity for the dead woman, her family and her friends.”

But he said some who attended the vigil in London were troublemakers and said some carried placards declaring “ACAB”, meaning “all coppers are b******s”.

He said officers were allowed to use legal force to arrest those resisting orders to disperse.

Mr Moore added: “The greatest disappointment was the response of politicians both locally and nationally and cross party.

“Not one of them came out and supported the police despite the fact that it was they who created the totally unworkable Covid-19 related legislation and insisted that they enforce it.

Police Chief

“The police have, over the past months, have been damned if they do and damned if they don’t.

“Let us not forget that the officers policing these events could well be the same officers called upon to investigate crimes committed against women in the future. They are just trying to do their job.”