POLICE were forced to flee Reading carnival last year due to “extreme concerns” about their safety and being outnumbered.

The Reading Community Carnival, held in Prospect Park each year in May, could be cancelled this year because of police concerns. 

Police set up a recruitment stall at the carnival, but they were forced to pack the stall up and leave, according to a PCSO, due to a “hostile anti-police crowd”. One armed police officer at the carnival said it was “lucky that no deaths occurred.”

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Councillors are due to decide next Tuesday, March 17, whether to take away the licence or impose new conditions. This follows Thames Valley Police asking for a review from the licensing sub-committee at Reading Borough Council.

In evidence to that committee, PC Simon Wheeler detailed the “extreme” concerns, revolving mainly around two stabbings which happened at the carnival last year. He is recommending councillors revoke the licence.

The carnival, organised by Reading Caribbean Cultural Group, starts on Great Knollys Street before travelling down the Oxford Road and finishing in Prospect Park.

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PC Wheeler said the organisers “failed to provide adequately sufficient and suitable security personnel, whom it is reported lack both the skill and numbers to deal effectively with such issues.

“This had led to serious concerns both relating to the public safety of those attending this and future events, as well as for the safety of police officers when dealing with predominantly anti-police crowds, with a propensity to both commit violent acts and carry weapons.”

Neighbours also complained to the council about the carnival last year, about noise, parking and rubbish.

Someone who lived opposite Prospect Park complained of “ridiculous levels of bass noise”. They said: “Our street couldn’t watch TV in any room of the house without being disturbed — the bass was rattling the windows.

“The noise continued after the official shutdown time, where lots of people congregated around vehicles in the car park, blasting out ridiculously loud music well into the evening. The level of bass was organ-shaking.

“The no-parking signs were ignored and the area was dangerously over-congested, disrupting traffic and trapping some residents in their homes. People were getting very drunk, vomiting and falling about on the street.”

Roberta Grass, supporting the carnival, wrote to the council and said: “The carnival is an important community and cultural event, attended not just by the Caribbean community but the wider community as a whole.

“I understand the committee plan to erect a perimeter security fence, install a scanner to search for weapons, search bags and securely remove any glass or weapons, and increase the security personnel.

“To fund this they plan to introduce a modest entry free of £2. Which I entirely support, and feel this mitigates any perceived risk.” 

The carnival organisers did not respond to a request for comment.