Improving the lives of children in care is the “absolute top priority”, England’s new children’s commissioner has told Sky News. Dame Rachel de Souza has vowed to be “fearless” in holding the government to account over its promises to improve the experiences of looked after children. Speaking as she takes post as the most senior child protection figure,
UK
Boris Johnson has given his full backing to the head of the Metropolitan Police but admitted the chaos at Saturday night’s vigil for Sarah Everard was “very distressing”. Cressida Dick has faced calls to resign over her force’s handling of events at Clapham Common in south London, after police were seen grabbing several women and
Clashes between police and attendees of a vigil for Sarah Everard were “distressing” and “alarming”, the policing minister has told Sky News. Kit Malthouse said that officers were “happy” to be held “accountable” by an independent investigation into Saturday night’s chaos. But he insisted the under-pressure Metropolitan Police commissioner, Cressida Dick, should not resign over
The mayor of London has said the police handling of the vigil for Sarah Everard on Clapham Common was “unacceptable” – and that he is “not satisfied” with the explanation he has received from the head of the Metropolitan Police. The scenes of officers grabbing several women at the Saturday evening gathering and leading them
The Metropolitan Police is facing fierce criticism for its handling of a vigil in memory of Sarah Everard – with Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick urged to resign. Scuffles broke out at the gathering on Clapham Common as officers told attendees to go home – and at one stage, policemen were seen grabbing hold of several
A serving Metropolitan Police officer has appeared in court charged with kidnapping and murdering Sarah Everard, who went missing in south London last week. Wayne Couzens, 48, appeared in person before Westminster Magistrates’ Court for the first time following his arrest on Tuesday. He confirmed his name and address. The case will be sent to
A vigil for Sarah Everard in Clapham this evening has been cancelled following discussions with police. Reclaim These Streets tweeted: “We are sorry to confirm that our Clapham vigil scheduled for tonight is cancelled. Please see the full statement here. “Instead, we are fundraising £320,000 for women’s causes: £10K for every proposed fine for the
A judge has refused to intervene in a dispute over whether police should allow a vigil for Sarah Everard to take place on Saturday. Police initially gave a “positive response” to the plans for a vigil, but the women behind the event claim the Metropolitan Police later reversed its position because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Organisers of a vigil for Sarah Everard are launching a legal challenge after the Metropolitan Police said that the gathering would be unlawful. The Reclaim These Streets group were planning to meet at 6pm on Saturday at Clapham Common – not far from where the 33-year-old went missing on Wednesday 3 March. Although the police
The family of missing woman Sarah Everard have described her as a “shining example” who was “kind and strong”. A police officer remains in custody after having been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and murdering the 33-year-old. Detectives searching for Ms Everard discovered human remains in Ashford, Kent, yesterday. While awaiting formal identification, Ms Everard’s
Boris Johnson has demanded the “immediate release” of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in a phone call with Iran’s president. A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The prime minister spoke to Iranian President Rouhani this afternoon. “The prime minister raised the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and other British-Iranian dual nationals detained in Iran and demanded their immediate release. “He
Police searching for missing Sarah Everard have discovered human remains in woodland in Ashford, Kent. The 33-year-old went missing on Wednesday 3 March while walking back from a friend’s house in Clapham, south London to her home in Brixton. A serving Metropolitan Police officer was arrested on Tuesday night on suspicion of kidnap and later
A serving Metropolitan Police officer has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of Sarah Everard. In a statement the Metropolitan Police said the man was arrested at an address in Kent and is being held at a London police station. A woman was arrested at the same address on suspicion of assisting an offender
Buckingham Palace remains silent almost 24 hours after Harry and Meghan’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey aired in the US – with the British public divided on the couple’s explosive claims following its first UK broadcast. While the world waits for a response from the Royal Family, celebrities and a number of charities have been
Buckingham Palace has issued a statement in response to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s interview with Oprah Winfrey, saying issues of race are “concerning” and “will be addressed”. Following the explosive interview airing in full on UK television last night, a palace spokesman said: “The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent
Boris Johnson has hailed the return of schools across England as a “big” and “emotional” day – but warned it will impact on the spread of coronavirus and there is no guarantee the country will reopen on the target dates set out. Speaking at a news conference in Downing Street, the prime minister said it