ORGANISERS of a vigil for Sarah Everard say police have declared the event "unlawful" and threatened them with fines and prosecution under Covid laws.
Reclaim the Streets are set to mount a High Court challenge today, claiming the Met reversed the decision to permit Saturday's event in London.
🔵 Follow our live blog for the latest developments on the case of missing Sarah Everard
The group said has raised £30,000 cover legal costs, with donations still pouring in.
Hundreds are expected to join the special vigil for Sarah after the 33-year-old vanished off the streets of the capital.
The socially-distanced Reclaim These Streets vigil will be held at sunset on Saturday at Clapham Common – where Sarah was last seen last week.
Cop Wayne Couzens, 48, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and kidnap after cops launched an investigation into Sarah's disappearance.
Human remains were found in woodland in Kent on Wednesday, however identification is expected to take some time.
LEGAL CHALLENGE
A vigil will now be held on Saturday – both for Sarah and also for women who feel unsafe and face violence everyday.
Lawyers for Reclaim the Streets have written to the Met to challenge their interpretation of Covid legislation.
Last night, Reclaim The Streets said in a statement: "When we initially proposed the event, we proactively reached out to Lambeth Council and Metropolitan Police to ensure that the event could safely and legally take place.
"After initially receiving a positive response, we continued to plan and promote the event and continued to update the Council and Police.
It comes as…
- Police were last night investigating whether Wayne Couzens used his warrant card to entice Sarah into a car
- Sarah's heartbroken family have paid tribute to her
- Human remains were found in woodland in Kent as part of the investigation
- CCTV from a London bus could have helped cops in their investigation
- IOPC announces it is launching inquiries into the Met
"The Metropolitan Police said that they were 'trying to navigate a way through' and that they were 'currently developing a local policing plan' to allow the vigil to take place and to enable them to 'develop an appropriate and proportionate local response' to the event.
"Since this statement, the Metropolitan Police have reversed their position and stated that the vigil would be unlawful and that, as organisers, we could face tens of thousands of pounds in fines and criminal prosecution under the Serious Crimes Act."
Labour MP Harriet Harman, QC, has written to the Met backing the "perfectly lawful" event.
The vigil is due to take place at Clapham Common bandstand at 6pm on Saturday evening with organisers telling people they should maintain social distancing.
A Met Police spokesman said: "We understand the public's strength of feeling and are aware of the statement issued by Reclaim The Streets with regard to a planned vigil for Sarah Everard in Clapham Common this weekend.
"We remain in discussion with the organisers about this event in light of the current Covid regulations."
The Reclaim These Streets marches are designed to show that women should feel safe no matter the time of day.
Organisers said: "It's wrong that the response to violence against women requires women to behave differently. In Clapham, police told women not to go out at night this week. Women are not the problem.
"We've all been following the tragic case of Sarah Everard over the last week. This is a vigil for Sarah, but also for all women who feel unsafe, who go missing from our streets and who face violence every day."
It comes as Couzens was linked to an alleged sex offence four days before the kidnap and murder of Sarah.
But police may have failed to act and arrest Couzens over the accusation of indecent exposure at fast food take away in South London.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct announced it is investigating the Met over the apparent failure to act on the indecent exposure report.
The apparent police blunder over the alleged indecent exposure emerged after Couzens was found unconscious in custody with a “serious” head injury and taken to hospital yesterday.
The police watchdog last night announced they are also investigating the Met Police over the injury sustained by Couzens.
Sarah's family yesterday paid tribute to their "bright and beautiful daughter and sister".
In a statement, Sarah's family said: "Our beautiful daughter Sarah was taken from us and we are appealing for any information that will help to solve this terrible crime.
"Sarah was bright and beautiful – a wonderful daughter and sister. She was kind and thoughtful, caring and dependable. She always put others first and had the most amazing sense of humour.
"She was strong and principled and a shining example to us all. We are very proud of her and she brought so much joy to our lives.
"We would like to thank our friends and family for all their support during this awful time and we would especially like to thank Sarah’s friends who are working tirelessly to help."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “shocked and deeply saddened by the developments in the Sarah Everard investigation”, adding “we must work fast to find all the answers to this horrifying crime”.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "I am deeply saddened by the developments in the Sarah Everard investigation. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with Sarah, her family and friends at this unbearable time.
"Many women have shared their stories and concerns online since Sarah’s disappearance last week. These are so powerful because each and every woman can relate.
"Every woman should feel safe to walk on our streets without fear of harassment or violence.
"At this deeply sad and tragic time as we think and pray for Sarah and her family, I will continue through my role to do all I can to protect women and girls from violence and harassment."
The first Reclaim These Streets protest is organised on Clapham Common, near to where the Durham University grad was last seen alive.
She vanished without a trace on March 3, and a huge police manhunt has been scrambled to find her.
She disappeared after leaving a friend’s house in Leathwaite Road, Clapham, at about 9pm that day.
She was thought to be making the 50-minute walk to her home in Brixton, where she lives alone.
Detectives believe she walked over Clapham Common and was seen on CCTV about halfway through the journey, on the A205 Poynders Road at 9.30pm.
She had been on the phone with her boyfriend Josh Lowth, also 33, for 15 minutes.
After that her phone loses signal or is switched off.
She was not seen on CCTV further down the road, or by her flat in Brixton.
'WE DESERVE TO BE SAFE'
The case has ignited sadness and fury among women – who do not feel safe at night.
Organiser of Saturday's vigil Jamie Klingler said: “Every WhatsApp group I am in is filled with dread over Sarah Everard.
“All of us are replaying the millions of times we, as urban adults, have walked home at night.
“That we have taken for granted that we deserve to be safe.
“My heart is breaking for her family.”
Author Elif Shafak joined the protest: “Every woman should be able to walk home safely without fear.
“Stop telling women to change their behaviour.
“It is this awful misogyny that needs to be abolished.
“We need structural, legal, progressive change to protect women and girls, not empty words.”
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