Umunna calls for Lambeth Country Show to drop funfair
Chuka Umunna, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Streatham, has called for the funfair to be dropped from this year’s summer Lambeth Country Show after it attracted gang violence at last year’s event.
Chuka attended the Lambeth Country Show last year and spoke at a Lambeth Community Police Consultative Group (CPCG) public meeting at the event on Saturday 18 July.
Immediately after the meeting, he and other participants witnessed confrontation between two large rival gangs in and around the funfair area of the festival, with a teenager being stabbed in the fracas.
The 16-year old’s arm was slashed with a knife. Hundreds of Police had to intervene and dozens of arrests were made. As the violence escalated, dozens of families fled from the funfair where the violence began.
On the Saturday evening, a 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of an offensive weapon, along with another boy of the same age who was accused of assaulting a police officer.
Lambeth Country Show, a free annual community event held in Brockwell Park, last year attracted more than 100,000 visitors over two days.
While during the day the event was a success, the funfair attracted gang violence, and Mr Umunna is calling for the funfair to be dropped from the event this year to help prevent trouble breaking out again.
After witnessing the incident last year, Mr Umunna has made his concerns known to the police and Lambeth council, which organises the Lambeth Country Show.
Mr Umunna has been prompted to call for the funfair to be pulled after hearing the concerns of many local parents’ who say they will not allow their teenage children to attend the Country Show because of their worries about security issues and the risk of further gang violence.
Mr Umunna said: “Last year’s Lambeth Country Show was a huge success but was unfortunately marred by gang violence and a teenager was stabbed.
“Trouble was also reported at other events similar to the Lambeth Country Show in Southwark and Lewisham.
“Getting rid of the funfair at our Country Show would reduce the risk of gangs congregating at it, help police maintain order and ensure the event continues to be one of the great highlights in our summer calendar.”
“Having heard the concerns of local parents, I feel we have to act to make sure this year’s event is safe for all concerned – the funfair has acted as a magnet for trouble and removing it makes sense in my view.”
It has been reported by South London Press (‘Ditch Funfair at Top Show’, Feb 19 2010) that Mr Umunna witnessed the stabbing of a teenager at the event. By way of clarification, although Mr Umunna saw the violence at the funfair, he did did not witness the stabbing which took place.
