Women in Sheffield took to the streets of the city centre to Reclaim the Night, after Counting Dead Women reported that 92 UK women have been killed by men this year. 

We went to Sheffield’s Reclaim the Night march, hosted by student officers from the University of Sheffield where hundreds of women came together to say no to gender based violence.

Scarlett, an attendee of the march, said: “I know lads that will walk home drunk and won’t even question it! Why am I sober walking home scared but you’re paralytic drunk and completely fine? 

Speaking on one night at West Street Live, she said: “My boyfriend left, and these men just descended on us, five girls and all these men in a circle.”

Frances, another attendee, told us about her reasons for marching. She said: “For me it’s a family thing, my mum did it in the 90s and my sister did it when she was at uni. I don’t feel safe walking home at night. And I want that to change. That’s the long and short of it.”

The women marched up West Street chanting slogans such as “Women unite. Reclaim the night!” and “Whose streets? Our Streets?”

On the way, they faced verbal abuse from men in the city centre who jeered phrases such as “Is it your choice darling?” and “Get back in the kitchen.”

Jasmine, who was also marching, told us: “Your day just stops at 5pm, especially in the winter, it’s so shit. You shouldn’t have to pay membership to a gym to run on the treadmill just to stay safe. You should be able to go on runs or even just go to the shops after it gets dark.

“I want to walk around like a man does in this world but I don’t see it happening in our lifetime.”

Riya Chauhan, the women’s student officer who organised the event, said: “My personal experiences when it comes to gender violence on nights out and in relationships had a huge impact on me. It made me think how could I help others, how could I improve things? 

“I would like to see the attitudes change and for there to be more drive for things to change. Bystander training is the most effective way of teaching men about this issue from a young age so implementing that would make a huge difference.”