Reclaim the Night returns to Leeds

Arm in arm, both young and old were united in chanting as the Reclaim the Night movement took to the streets to make their voices heard.

For the first time since 2006 hundreds of women joined together in an effort to highlight the current rape conviction rates, which organisers claim to be ‘shockingly low’.

Rape Crisis England and Wales suggests that as few as 10 per cent of rape and sexual assaults are reported to the police; while in West Yorkshire, only around 8.3 per cent of cases result in a conviction. It is these figures that have prompted the re-birth of the movement in Leeds that has a history dating back over 25 years.

The strong turn out of over 300 people was testament to the current feelings of injustice and a genuine need for change. This year’s event was timed to coincide with International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, on November 25.

Liv Bailey, NUS women’s officer says that Reclaim the Night marches are more necessary than ever: “1 in 4 women will experience violence at some point in their lives, women are still afraid to walk the streets at night alone. The police and community still try to blame women if they are attacked and they have been drinking, or wearing a short skirt.”

Sophia James echoed these sentiments: “Reclaim the Night will always be necessary whilst the emphasis is put on the victim for rape. Society will so often question why the individual was wearing a short skirt or low cut top or why they were stumbling around town drunk and alone, when what we really should be questioning is why a man believes it is acceptable to force himself on woman. It is time that society realizes that it has a serious problem.”

The carefully crafted route took in all the strip clubs in the town centre and covered several areas in which women have reported they feel vulnerable. The unity displayed on the night between the original and current generations of women was notable. The chants may have been updated, but there was a strong sense of a common purpose.

There was also an overwhelming atmosphere of support in the group between protesters of all genders, which was highlighted when the marchers faced down drunken cries of ‘get your tits out for the lads’ from a few bars. While the group en masse saw the cries as symptomatic of the still prevalent problems within society and merely drowned them out with chants, some peripheral male members took it upon themselves to answer to these claims in a more aggressive manner. In a march led by women, it was unfortunate to see some take their own lead.

Despite some confusion over whether organisers had correctly notified the police of the march, police were only a small presence and there was little more trouble. This was telling of the peaceful but powerful nature of the action.

In reaction to the event, Det Supt Ingrid Lee of West Yorkshire Police’s Crime Division said:  “Offences are often very difficult to prove as it is often one person’s account against another. To deal with this, we have introduced a dedicated unit who are specially trained and highly skilled in investigating rape. They work alongside dedicated lawyers from CPS and staff from STAR (Sexual Trauma After Rape) to ensure that the best possible victim care and evidence to prosecute is obtained.”

The Reclaim the Night movement was originally formed at a time when the Yorkshire Ripper was still at large. At this time LUU passed an “anti-rape’ motion placing a ‘temporary curfew’ on students in an attempt to protect students.

The attitude of putting the onus on women to stay off the streets was what sparked the Reclaim the Night movement. A look through issues of Leeds Student from the late 70s show a surprising lack of coverage of Reclaim the Night marches despite much coverage of other protests.

The attitudes of the time are visible in the news in brief section of November 3 1978 issue which read: “200 women, many of them students, marched through Leeds on Tuesday night in a reclaim the night march, to show that women walking at night have to stay in groups for safety.” This article misrepresented the aims of the march.

There were also conflicts at this time between the attitudes of the University and the Union. The University introduced a night bus service, which is still going strong today, to ensure that female students got home safely. However, the capture of the Yorkshire Ripper nearly saw the service withdrawn.

Having previously funded the service, the University bursar proposed to cut this funding. In reaction, the Union passed a motion stating that the university should pay 90 per cent, and that just because Peter Sutcliffe (the Yorkshire Ripper) had been caught, it didn’t mean that it was safe for women to walk home alone.

The threats of sexual attacks and domestic abuse are still real for many women. A short but moving speech given by a woman who had lived on the streets and suffered sexual violence was given the longest applause. The most disappointing aspect of the event was that, unfortunately, neither the police or the unsympathetic policians were present to hear it.

It was hoped that this would inspire sympathisers to spread the messages of the cause, and with such a good turn out for Reclaim the Night marches across the country over the past few weeks, the feminist movement appears to be regaining strength and purpose once more.

A new poll, conducted by Catherine Redfern for Reclaiming the F Word: The New Feminist Movement, has revealed that nearly half of feminists are under 25 years old, with almost three-quarters of the 1,300 surveyed saying they started to identify with being a feminist while still in their teens.

This contrasts to well known figures such as Margaret Atwood and Germaine Greer stating that they do not identify themselves as feminists.

There are hopes that the interest in these marches, along with the resurgence in the movement they signify, will strengthen campaigns by similar groups.

Liv Bailey commented: “The rape conviction rate is an absolute disgrace, and immediate and thorough action must be taken.”

“Police attitudes towards survivors of rape are one of the many things that must change. If enough women join the campaign, I have no doubt that we can raise the conviction rate.”

These positive signs appear to be bearing fruit with West Yorkshire police reporting that during December 2008 whilst the awareness campaign was underway, there was a 26 per cent reduction in serious sexual offences in the county.

Chief Superintendent Barry South of Local Policing said: “I would urge everyone to drink responsibly and avoid making themselves vulnerable through binge drinking.

“I hope that this campaign will make people sit up and take note of these simple measures, to keep themselves out of trouble.”

Police have also made moves toward change with the ‘16 Days of Action Against Violence Against Women and Children’ campaign which sees the launch of the city’s new domestic violence strategy for 2008-2011.    

Despite this admirable campaign another initiative launched for the coming festive period by police, telling women to ‘Stay safe this Christmas’, seems to show that things haven’t changed at all.

The onus of responsibility is again on the women to ‘know your limits’, ‘stay with your friends’ and to get a licensed taxi home.

Good advice granted, but the poster also reads: ‘too drunk alone’ which can be only seen as placing the blame on the shoulders of the woman.

The question needs to be raised as to why men are not being advised to drink responsibly this festive period. The Reclaim the Night campaigners take issue with such treatments of these issues and ask why it is too idealistic to look for the day when any taxi home is safe.

Despite this seemingly ill-worded campaign, plans have already begun for a Reclaim the Night march next year, which is hoped will continue to good work started by this new generation of activists inspired by their predecessors.

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