Manchester stood in solidarity with Sarah Everard on Friday evening after the 33-year-old was found dead last week.
A small gathering of people laid flowers and lit candles in a vigil, others watched in silence, reflecting on the events which have shocked the UK.
Originally organisers had planned an official event, but they were forced to cancel it following a ruling from a High Court judge after the Met Police banned the London vigil on Clapham Common due to the current Covid-19 lockdown.
But that didn’t stop a small number of people heading to St Peter’s Square in Manchester city centre to lay flowers and signs at the foot of the statue of famous suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst.
Met Police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, has been charged with the murder and kidnap of Ms Everard and appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday and at the Old Bailey earlier this week.
The disappearance of marketing executive Sarah Everard has sparked a massive debate around the safety of women on UK streets.
A GMP spokesperson said: “We along with the rest of the country are shocked and saddened about what has happened to Sarah Everard and the thoughts of everyone at GMP are with her family and friends at this horrendous time.
“Women should never have to live in fear or change their behaviour to keep themselves safe on our streets and GMP stands with this message and understands why events were planned in support of it.”
