Police at a vigil in memory of Sarah Everard were placed in a position where enforcement was necessary, Scotland Yard said amid pressure to explain its handling of the event.
A crowd gathered at Clapham Common to remember the 33-year-old marketing executive but scuffles broke out as police surrounded a bandstand covered in flowers left in tribute.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police were seen grabbing several women, leading them away in handcuffs and the force later said four people were arrested for public order and coronavirus regulation breaches.
But there has been condemnation of the policing of the vigil, with UK Home Secretary Priti Patel seeking a full report on events.
She described footage from the vigil as upsetting, while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called on UK Police Commissioner Cressida Dick to consider her leadership of the force.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the scenes were unacceptable, tweeting: The police have a responsibility to enforce Covid laws but from images Ive seen its clear the response was at times neither appropriate nor proportionate.
In the early hours of Sunday, Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball said police were put into a position where enforcement action was necessary.
She said: Hundreds of people were packed tightly together, posing a very real risk of easily transmitting Covid-19.
Police must act for peoples safety, this is the only responsible thing to do. The pandemic is not over and gatherings of people from right across London and beyond, are still not safe.
Those who gathered were spoken to by officers on a number of occasions and over an extended period of time. We repeatedly encouraged those who were there to comply with the law and leave. Regrettably, a small minority of people began chanting at officers, pushing and throwing items.
The assembled crowd chanted shame on you as police led people away at the vigil, while during another confrontation a distressed woman could be heard telling officers youre supposed to protect us.
Reclaim These Streets said the group was deeply saddened and angered by scenes of officers physically manhandling women at a vigil against male violence.
The group added: This week of all weeks the police should have understood that women would need a place to mourn, reflect and show solidarity.
Now is the time for the police and the Government to recognise that the criminal justice system is failing women.
Tonight, it has failed women again, in the most destructive way. We will keep fighting for womens voices to be heard and to matter.
A woman holds up a placard as people gather in Clapham Common, London, at a vigil for Sarah Everard. Photograph: Victoria Jones/PA Wire
Hundreds of people converged on the south London park despite an official vigil being called off earlier in the day due to police warnings over coronavirus restrictions.
Vigils also took place in locations including Glasgow, Nottingham, Birmingham and Bristol.
Separately, Sisters Uncut, an organisation describing itself as a feminist group taking direct action for domestic and sexual violence services, said it would be holding a rally at New Scotland Yard on Sunday.
Kate, Britains Duchess of Cambridge, was among those who paid their respects at the memorial. A palace official said Kate remembers what it was like to walk around London at night before she was married.
Earlier on Saturday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he and his partner Carrie Symonds would light a candle in memory of Ms Everard.
I will do everything I can to make sure the streets are safe and ensure women and girls do not face harassment or abuse, he said.
Appearing at Londons Westminster Magistrates Court on Saturday morning, 48-year-old police officer Wayne Couzens, wearing a grey tracksuit, spoke only to confirm his identity.
Couzenss lawyer did not enter a plea to the charges of kidnap and murder ahead of a fuller court hearing scheduled for Tuesday. Couzens remains in custody.
Police discovered Ms Everards body on Wednesday in woodland about 80 km southeast of London. The court heard that her body was found in a builders refuse bag, and was identified using dental records.
Couzens joined the Metropolitan Police in 2018 and guarded foreign embassies before his arrest.
Englands police watchdog has launched an investigation into the Metropolitan Polices handling of the case.
– Agencies
