Following discussions with the Metropolitan Police, Reclaim These Streets has confirmed the Clapham vigil originally scheduled for tonight has been cancelled due to risks associated with Covid-19.

In a statement, they said: “We have been very disappointed that given the many opportunities to engage with organisers constructively, the Metropolitan Police have been unwilling to commit to anything.”

Instead of the in-person vigil previously planned, organisers are encouraging people to take part from home tonight. Reclaim These Streets tweeted: “This evening at 9:30pm we will be joining people around the country in a doorstep vigil, standing on our doorsteps and shining a light – a candle, a torch, a phone – to remember Sarah Everard and all women affected by and lost to violence.”

The statement also explained that Reclaim These Streets are no longer attempting to raise money in order to pay the fines that organisers would have been faced with were they to go ahead with the vigils because they do not want to contribute money “to a system that consistently fails to keep women safe.”

Instead, they are attempting to raise £320,000 to donate to women’s causes: you can find the JustGiving page here.

Yesterday Reclaim These Streets launched emergency legal challenge against the Metropolitan police, arguing its decision to ban the gathering was unlawful. This morning’s statement explains: “We were told that pressing ahead could risk a £10,000 fine each for each woman organising. Even if we came to this amazing community for help in meeting those costs, we think that this would be a poor use of our and your money. We do not want to see hundreds of thousands of pounds contributed to a system that consistently fails to keep women safe – either in public spaces or in the privacy of their homes. Women’s rights are too important.

“Instead, we are setting up a fundraiser to raise the money we would have been liable for in fines to donate to supporting women’s causes around the country instead. We will also be donating the remaining funds of our legal costs crowdfunder to this charitable fund.”

Reclaim These Streets: doorstep vigil being held in honour of every woman who has gone missing on our streets