A vigil for Sarah Everard in Clapham this evening has been cancelled following discussions with police.
Reclaim These Streets tweeted: "We are sorry to confirm that our Clapham vigil scheduled for tonight is cancelled. Please see the full statement here.
"Instead, we are fundraising £320,000 for women's causes: £10K for every proposed fine for the 32 vigils originally scheduled."
Image:Ms Everard went missing in Clapham last week
In the 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.
"It remains our view that with the appropriate mutually agreed measures in place, this evening's vigil on Clapham Common would have been safe and in line with restrictions and safety regulations."
Instead of tonight's event, organisers said that a virtual gathering would be arranged.
Update: We are sorry to confirm that our Clapham vigil scheduled for tonight is cancelled. Please see the full statement here.
Before the discussions with police concluded, several people said they would go to Clapham Common today to commemorate Ms Everard regardless of the outcome - but this is now being advised against by Reclaim These Streets.
Their statement added: "As the event has now been cancelled, we would strongly encourage people not to gather this evening on Clapham Common.
"Despite the court judgement, the feedback from police is that doing so may place yourself legally at risk."
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Flowers laid to remember Sarah Everard
Yesterday it was announced that a serving Metropolitan Police officer had been charged with kidnapping and murdering Ms Everard, who went missing in south London last week.
The 48-year-old was taken to hospital on Friday for a second time in 48 hours for treatment on a fresh head injury sustained in custody.
A Met Police spokesman said: "He was being monitored by officers and received immediate first aid. He was discharged the same day and returned to custody."
Couzens was previously treated in hospital for a separate head wound on Thursday, which was sustained in custody when he was alone in his cell.
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Police announce man charged in Everard case
Meanwhile, a woman in her 30s who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender has been released on bail.
She is due to return to a police station in mid-April.
In the 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.
"It remains our view that with the appropriate mutually agreed measures in place, this evening's vigil on Clapham Common would have been safe and in line with restrictions and safety regulations."
Instead of tonight's event, organisers said that a virtual gathering would be arranged.
Earlier, several people said they would still go to Clapham Common today to commemorate Ms Everard - even though this is now being advised against by Reclaim These Streets.
Their statement added: "As the event has now been cancelled, we would strongly encourage people not to gather this evening on Clapham Common.
Image:Ms Everard went missing in Clapham last week
"Despite the court judgement, the feedback from police is that doing so may place yourself legally at risk."
Yesterday it was announced that a serving Metropolitan Police officer had been charged with kidnapping and murdering Ms Everard, who went missing in south London last week.
The 48-year-old was taken to hospital on Friday for a second time in 48 hours for treatment on a fresh head injury sustained in custody.
A Met Police spokesman said: "He was being monitored by officers and received immediate first aid. He was discharged the same day and returned to custody."
Couzens was previously treated in hospital for a separate head wound on Thursday, which was sustained in custody when he was alone in his cell.
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Assistant Commissioner of Met Police Nick Ephgrave makes announcement outside Scotland Yard.
Meanwhile, a woman in her 30s who was previously arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender has been released on bail.
She is due to return to a police station in mid-April.
A serving Met Police officer has been charged with the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard, who disappeared as she walked home in south London.
The 33-year-old's body was found in woodland in Kent more than a week after she was last spotted on 3 March.
Wayne Couzens, 48, will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday charged with her murder.
Durham University has paid tribute to Ms Everard, describing her as a "beloved graduate".
Ms Everard was last seen walking alone down a main road in Clapham at 21:30 GMT, with police saying it was unclear whether she reached her home in Brixton.
Her body was found by police searching woodland near Ashford, Kent, on Wednesday.
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Met Police Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said Ms Everard's family had been "informed of this development and remain supported by specialist officers".
"I would like at this stage to pay tribute to Sarah's family for their fortitude and forbearance through what can only have been the most intensely difficult few days, our thoughts remain with him as this matter progresses," he said.
"The investigation continues, of course, supported by hundreds of officers from across the Met, as well as colleagues in Kent Police."
Before the charges were confirmed, Mr Couzens was taken to hospital for a second time in two days after being found with head injuries inside his cell.
He has since been discharged and returned to his cell, the Met said.
Earlier on Friday evening, Met Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick took part in a walkabout on Clapham Common.
She walked with police officers and spoke to members of the public in the park close to Clapham Common Tube station.
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Durham University Vice-chancellor Prof Stuart Corbridge said marketing executive Ms Everard studied geography at St Cuthbert's Society.
"Sarah was a popular and lively member of our college community and retained a large Durham University friendship group," he said.
"Our thoughts remain with her family and friends at this extremely difficult time."
The Met said Mr Couzens joined the force in September 2018 and was initially based in the Bromley area.
In February last year he moved to the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command where his primary role was uniformed patrols, mainly at a range of embassies in the capital.
On Thursday, a woman in her 30s who was arrested at the same time as Mr Couzens on suspicion of assisting an offender, was bailed to a date in mid-April.
A serving Metropolitan Police officer has been charged with murdering and kidnapping Sarah Everard, who went missing in south London last week.
Wayne Couzens, 48, will appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court tomorrow, according to a statement from the Met.
A woman in her 30s who had also been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender has been released on bail.
She is due to return to a police station in mid-April.
Image:Wayne Couzens will appear in court tomorrow
Noting the "interests of clarity" around Couzens' history in the force, the statement also revealed the serving constable had joined in September 2018, when he worked with response team that covered Bromley.
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He was later posted to the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command in February 2020.
Here, Couzens is said to have been mostly sent on uniformed patrol duties of diplomatic premises, including a range of embassies.
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Speaking outside Scotland Yard on Friday, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave paid tribute to Ms Everard's family and friends for their "fortitude and forbearance" over the last few days of the investigation.
He added: "Our thoughts remain with them as this matter progresses.
"The investigation continues of course supported by hundreds of officers from across the Met as well as colleagues in Kent Police.
"I would also like to thank at this stage all members of the public who have come forward with information or support for the investigation and would use this opportunity to encourage anyone who thinks they might have useful information to give to get in contact with us."
Ms Everard, a marketing executive originally from York, vanished last Wednesday as she was walking to home in Brixton from the nearby Clapham Junction area.
She had been at a friend's house when she left the property in Leathwaite Road around 9pm.
The last known sighting of the 33-year-old was captured on a doorbell camera just after 9.30pm showing her walking alone toward Tulse Hill.
Her body was found in woodland near Ashford, Kent, a week later.
A group of women hoping to hold a vigil in memory of Sarah Everard claim it may still go ahead, despite a judge refusing to intervene in their dispute with Scotland Yard.
Reclaim These Streets launched a legal challenge in the High Court to overturn a decision to ban Saturday's event at Clapham Common, south London.
In his ruling, Mr Justice Holgate refused an application for "an interim declaration".
He was being asked to rule that any ban on outdoor gatherings, under coronavirus regulations, is "subject to the right to protest".
He also refused to declare that an alleged policy by the Metropolitan Police of "prohibiting all protests, irrespective of the specific circumstances", is unlawful.
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PM 'shocked and appalled' by Sarah Everard case
Nevertheless, Reclaim These Streets said they were "pleased" with what the judge had said.
Responding to his remarks, they said the judge had "spelled out that the law does not prevent the police from permitting and facilitating protest in all circumstances".
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They added: "The law is now clear that it is up to the police to conduct a proportionality assessment.
"The judge has made clear that the police must make their own decision about whether the protest can go ahead, and that must include a proportionality exercise."
However, Commander Catherine Roper, the Met's lead for community engagement, said: "I understand this ruling will be a disappointment to those hoping to express their strength of feeling, but I ask women and allies across London to find a safe alternative way to express their views.
"We continue to speak with the organisers of the vigil in Clapham and other gatherings across London in light of this judgement, and will explain the rules and urge people to stay at home."
Mr Justice Holgate said the organisers had been told by police that the vigil "would be illegal" and that their "hands were tied" by COVID regulations.
The four claimants had also been warned they could be issued with £10,000 fixed penalty notices and might be arrested, the judge added.
The judge ruled that "the requirements of the law have been clearly stated" in previous court rulings, including a challenge to COVID-19 lockdown rules brought by businessman Simon Dolan, which was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in December.
But he added that there may be "further communication" between the vigil organisers' lawyers and Scotland Yard to discuss the "application of the regulations".
Lana Adamou, a lawyer with the human rights group Liberty, said the judgment was "concerning", adding: "Safe, socially distanced demonstrations are perfectly possible and it is the duty of the police to facilitate them, not block them."
Image:Police have confirmed that remains found in Kent are those of Ms Everard
Following the decision at the High Court, a government spokesman said: "All of our thoughts are with Sarah's family and friends at this terrible time, and the government recognises why so many women and girls across the country want to pay their respects.
"We are still in the middle of a pandemic, which is why we urge people to do this safely and to continue to avoid mass gatherings.
"We have also reopened our nationwide call for views on tackling violence against women and girls. So many have bravely shared their experiences over recent days and the government is listening."
Asked about the case, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he had been "shocked and appalled", and that the "whole country is united in feeling for her friends and family".
Mr Johnson said he "totally understands why this has triggered such a wave of feeling on this issue of safety of women".
A serving Met officer remains in custody at a London police station after being arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and murdering Ms Everard.
Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said: "I know that the public feel hurt and angry about what has happened, and those are sentiments that I share personally, and I know my colleagues here at Scotland Yard and across the Met share as well.
"I also recognise the wider concerns that have been raised, quite rightly, about the safety of women in public spaces in London and also elsewhere in the country.
"I want to say now that this organisation, and the men and women in it, remain committed to protecting Londoners wherever they are in this city.
"That commitment is undiminished by these events and, if anything, is strengthened by these tragic circumstances."
