Suffolk Police respond to planned vigil for Sarah Everard in Bury St Edmunds

Police in Suffolk have issued a statement in response to a planned vigil for Sarah Everard.

The event, inline the main gathering on Clapham Common – not far from where Sarah Everard was last seen, had been planned for today on Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds. At least nine others were planned in towns and cities such as Cambridge, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool and St Andrews.

Police have confirmed that remains found in Kent are those of Ms Everard

The gathering called Reclaim These Streets – Bury St Edmunds, aims to pay tribute to Sarah and all the women lost to violence as well as highlighting that streets should be safe for women, regardless of what you wear, where you live or what time of day or night it is.

A Suffolk Constabulary spokesman said: “We understand the strength of feeling and people’s desire to come together mourn Sarah Everard as well as to make a statement and organise on the issue of women’s safety. However, the Covid-19 regulations do not permit large gatherings because of the very real risks of the spread of the virus.

“Police must take a consistent approach to policing the regulations and cannot wave the regulations for any one type of gathering.”

“We support opportunities to conduct vigils through online means but we must discourage in-person protests and vigils in the strongest terms. We are currently explaining this position to those who are considering organising vigils in Ipswich and Bury, and are appealing to them, as well as anyone considering attending, to reconsider their plans this weekend.

“We will continue to follow the four E’s to encourage, engage and explain and use enforcement where there are breaches of the law.”

The statement comes after a judge refused to intervene in a dispute over whether police should allow the main vigil for Sarah Everard to take place.