Women-led march held to 'reclaim the night'

A women-led march has taken place through a town as part of an annual "reclaim the night" protest.

Organisers said the event in Northampton was "designed to raise awareness of the urgent need for action to address the epidemic of gender-based violence and to create a safer, fairer world for all women and girls".

Women, joined by men and children, with placards and loud hailers paraded down Wellingborough Road to the Market Square on Friday from 18:30 GMT.

The event was organised by Northamptonshire Rape Crisis and a spokeswoman said: "This march is not just a protest — it’s a call for change."

"We are demanding safety, justice, and an end to the systemic violence that affects us all," she added.

The event featured speakers and performers.

The spokeswoman said: "Too many women and girls live in fear of violence, whether it’s physical, emotional, or sexual.

"It is time for us to raise our voices, take to the streets, and say enough is enough."

"We are encouraged to hear that the UK Government is committed to reducing Violence Against Women and Girls by 50% in the next 10 years, and that they are calling VAWG [violence against women and girls] a national emergency.”

Reclaim the Night marches began in Leeds in 1977 to highlight the growing danger to women after dark, and partly in response to the murders of women in West Yorkshire and Manchester carried out by serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, who was caught and jailed in 1981.

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