The Metropolitan Police's decision to break up the crowd, and their behaviour in forcibly arresting attendees and walking over the flowers laid by them, prompted public anger.[57][58] Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, called the police response "deeply disturbing";[59] Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was "deeply concerned" by footage of the events.[60] Mayor Khan called the police actions and arrests "neither appropriate nor proportionate".[61] Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, called for Dame Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, to resign.[62] Dick declined to resign and dismissed criticism of the police response.[59][62][63] Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball said the action was necessary because "hundreds of people were packed tightly together, posing a very real risk of easily transmitting COVID-19", and the Metropolitan Police Federation said that 26 police officers were assaulted.[8][62]