Vigils that were being held this weekend in Kent as part of the Reclaim These Streets movement following the suspected murder of Sarah Everard have been cancelled.

The events, that were due to take place in Margate, Folkestone and Whitstable on Saturday at 6pm, were called off after a High Court judgment ruled they could not go ahead legally.

The disappearance of 33-year-old Sarah and the subsequent arrest of serving Met Police officer Wayne Couzens, from Deal, on suspicion of her kidnap and murder has sparked fury over women feeling unsafe on the streets.

Sarah, a marketing executive had been walking home from a friend's house in south London on March 3 when she disappeared.

Her body was found a week later in woodland in Ashford.

The collective grief over her death - and anger over the lack of safety for women on the streets and measures they have to take when walking alone - led the Reclaim These Streets events to be set up.

At 6pm on Saturday, vigils were due to held at the Margate Main Sands steps, Radnor Park in Folkestone and Whitstable Library.

But this evening a High Court Judge refused to overturn police ban on a Sarah Everard vigil in London after Scotland Yard claimed the Reclaim These Streets event was illegal due to pandemic.

Since then, organisers of the events stated: "It is with regret that we need to cancel this event.

"Within the last hour, a high court judgement has ruled that planned vigils across the country cannot go ahead legally.

"The organisers respect this. Please do display posters, post and share useful information on social media and continue to shine your light and be unafraid in the dark."

Campaigners say the force has backtracked on its support for the event, citing Covid-19 restrictions.

Meanwhile, a Kent county councillor is urging women to come forward with their safety concerns.

Cllr Karen Constantine, who represents Thanet, says women do indeed walk in fear.

"I’m sure we all agree that women should be able to walk alone anywhere without fear," she said.

"But as reports repeatedly show, this is simply not the case for the vast majority.

"YouGov polling shows that 97% of women between 18 to 24 have been sexually harassed, while 80% of women in all age groups reported having experienced sexual harassment in a public place."

To get in touch email karen@karenconstantine.co.uk.

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