Priti Patel spoke to Met chief before Sarah Everard vigil broken up

Home secretary agrees vigil was hijacked' by protesters and that undermining police would fail victims

Priti Patel has told the Commons she had had extensive discussions" with the head of the Metropolitan police before officers broke up a peaceful vigil for Sarah Everard at the weekend, saying that people should be allowed to lay flowers.

But, in her first criticism of the gathering, the home secretary agreed the vigil had been hijacked" by protesters and that undermining faith in the police would ultimately fail victims.