London New Year’s Eve fireworks replace as Met Police points assertion

Police have issued a “clarification” after fury erupted over the closure of a beloved park traditionally used for watching London’s fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

Residents near Primrose Hill have expressed their outrage after opaque green barriers were erected around the park in what they’ve described as an “unprecedented” move to stop revellers from entering to view the spectacular display.

The Camden park boasts sweeping views across the capital and last year welcomed an estimated 30,000 people who flocked there to ring in the New Year – but this year it remains shut. The gates were reportedly locked from 8pm on Tuesday until 6am on New Year’s Day.

Sections of the park have now been sealed off with solid barriers and temporary fencing, whilst other areas feature just the temporary fencing to keep hopeful spectators at bay.

The Metropolitan Police has clarified that the closure wasn’t their decision, but rather a choice made by the Royal Parks due to “challenges they faced in providing the necessary crowd management” to accommodate up to 30,000 people, reports the Mirror.

A statement posted on X by the force this evening read: “Claims that this is a result of the disbanding of the dedicated parks police team are inaccurate.

“While parks officers had primary responsibility for the area on an everyday basis, they made up just 15 of the 145 officers deployed to Primrose Hill on New year’s Eve last year. Police resources are not a factor here.”

Amy McKeown, a local resident, revealed she had fled the area on Monday to mark New Year’s Eve with relatives elsewhere.

“I have left the area. It is too grotesque to see,” she declared regarding the barriers.

Ms McKeown, who belongs to the Primrose Hill Keepers volunteer group, continued: “The park has never been closed like this. This is completely unprecedented. This is a public park where people should be able to come to watch the fireworks. This is exactly what we should be encouraging people to do.”

The Metropolitan Police revealed in November it would dissolve the Royal Parks police unit, which assisted with tackling serious offences in green spaces such as Hyde Park and Primrose Hill, whilst attempting to address a £260 million budget shortfall.

A force spokesperson previously stated: “The decision to close Primrose Hill on New Year’s Eve is one taken by the Royal Parks, not the police. It is not accurate to suggest the decision was necessary as a result of the disbanding of the Royal Parks policing team.

“Officers from that team made up just 15 of the more than 145 officers who were deployed to Primrose Hill on New Year’s Eve last year. This is similar to the makeup of deployments in previous years.”

Safety concerns had emerged following a tragic incident at the park’s 2023 New Year’s Eve fireworks viewing, when a 16-year-old boy was fatally stabbed in the neck on Primrose Hill.

Areece Lloyd-Hall, 18, received a minimum 16-year sentence in November for the murder of schoolboy Harry Pitman.

The Royal Parks charity, which oversees Primrose Hill, had previously warned that their ability to handle crowds of the usual size would be “severely diminished” partly due to the shutting down of The Metropolitan Police’s Royal Parks Operational Command Unit.

A charity spokesman revealed on Monday: “The decision to close Primrose Hill on New Year’s Eve was not taken lightly. Last year an estimated 30,000 people visited Primrose Hill to view the Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve firework display.

“This was not an organised event with an event organiser but a gathering in open parkland and we have limited controls that we can deploy to ensure public safety. Therefore, we have decided that Primrose Hill will be closed and locked from 8pm on December 30 until January 1.

“We have been working closely with the Metropolitan Police by encouraging anyone without a ticket to the Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks to make alternative arrangements.”

Catherine Usiskin, a Primrose Hill resident for over 40 years, branded the fencing surrounding the park as “an overreaction”. “It’s just ridiculous,” she declared.

“It’s such an over-reaction. You can’t close down society.”

Ms Usiskin revealed that Primrose Hill, which falls partly within Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s constituency, has witnessed a surge in visitor numbers since she took up residence there.

“I understand it’s more difficult to police,” she acknowledged. “But since the pandemic there has been hysteria over Primrose Hill.”

Commander Nick John, who oversees the Met’s New Year’s Eve operations, declared: “The Royal Parks are urging people not to try to gather at Primrose Hill this year and we would echo those calls.

“Please make alternative plans. Anyone trying to access the park will find that it is not possible.”

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