Reclaim These Streets – the group planning to hold a vigil on Saturday evening close to the spot where Sarah Everard disappeared – has said it has been told by police that such action would be unlawful and could bring criminal prosecution and thousands of pounds in fines. The organisation is planning to hold the socially distanced event on Clapham Common, and at least nine others are planned in towns and cities such as Cambridge, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool and St Andrews. In a statement, Reclaim These Streets said: “Our plan was to hold a short gathering, centred around a minute of silence to remember Sarah Everard and all the women lost to violence.” However the group said the Metropolitan police had changed its stance, having initially been supportive. Harriet Harman has written to the Met to back the event, saying: “Parliament has not specifically acted to constrain the right to demonstrate, so long as social distancing is observed this vigil will be perfectly lawful.” The Labour MP also said she plans to attend the one-hour vigil on Saturday, according to Reclaim These Streets. The organisation’s lawyers have written to the force challenging its interpretation of coronavirus legislation when taken together with the Human Rights Act. It reached its crowdfunding target of £30,000 to cover legal costs shortly before 10.30pm on Thursday, with donations continuing to pour in. In a statement, the group said: “Should the judge decide in our favour, the Clapham vigil will be allowed to go ahead. “Should the judge decide against us, we may be liable for the Metropolitan police’s costs of up to £30,000. “We will also be forced to cancel the vigil, and no women across England will be able to assemble to assert their rights. “If we win the judgment, the money raised will be donated to a women’s charity. “By forcing us to cancel the Reclaim These Streets vigil, the Metropolitan police will be silencing thousands of women like us who want to honour Sarah’s memory and stand up for our right to feel safe on our streets.” The Met has been contacted for comment.