Really disappointed Primrose Hill closed to the public on NYE

[washingsomuchwashing]

For years we've enjoyed watching the fireworks from the hill.This year it was closed off so early people couldn't even go for a walk in the daytime. Evening Standard Safety concerns were cited over policing by the Royal Parks (and there was a stabbing last year – but there have been stabbings all over London!). It just felt really sad that people can't even go and watch the fireworks now.

Agree it was a bit odd to use the stabbing as an excuse as I suspect it was really because the police didn’t want to be there and cost cutting tbh!!

It makes sense as policing needed in central London.

They've managed both for years… And other parks. As things stood, people were left milling outside on the road, which looked more dangerous.

Interesting a lot of the talk on social media is about them wanting to stop people getting a free view of the fireworks

not sure I’m that cynical but it says a lot about people’s view of the mayor!

I feel so sad about London. When I was growing up tubes were free on NYE, no charge for fireworks and Primrose Hill has been somewhere to go to for NYE since forever. Stabbings were very rare indeed and you could enjoy Oxford Street leading up to Xmas without feeling like you were packed in like Sardines.
Now everything is charged and if they can’t squeeze money out of it you can’t do it. Closing off Promrise Hill just feels like another nail in the coffin.

How many areas of towns and cities in Uk were shut last night due to a historical stabbing?

Tubes were only free because private companies sponsored it.
Oxford St was far worse in the past. It used to be heaving but far fewer people shop in person now.

Fireworks used to be far less of a thing; the attraction of Primrose Hill was that you could see lots of smaller events all over London. The focus on going into the centre has become insane; when I was young, people went out locally. It's the same with Edinburgh and Hogmanay. More people wanting to go to The Event rather than a range of smaller events makes the big one more dangerous.

People are ever more litigious and authorities are ever more focused on risk management - which costs money

There was a fatal stabbing there last year, which indicates it has not had sufficient policing. I don't think Camden council (because this is a local issue, it has nothing to do with the mayor) could have kept the park open without additional security, bag searches etc. Anything less would have been considered irresponsible. It's not like there aren't other places to view the fireworks without traipsing into town. It is disappointing that this popular spot was not open this year. Perhaps the solution could be a small paid for fireworks event on the Hill with proper security, stalls and toilets?

I feel the same.

There was are stabbings most weeks on my local road – they don't propose closing it off!

The right wing press has done a marvellous job of twinning London with stabbing in the popular imagination.

Knife crime is hardly unique to London, sadly, and rates are dropping.

You can still go up to ally pally and see the fireworks across town

if you close everything down after one stabbing then you may as well tell everyone to stay home all the time. PH is a safe place overall

i feel like the fireworks have become predictable and samey tbh but maybe that’s because I've seen so many!

https://benkinsella.org.uk/knife-crime-offences-hit-their-lowest-level-since-before-pandemic/

Anecdotally, no sign of knife crime dropping in my local area. I wonder if there are now fewer deaths because they're so used to treating knife wounds.

Ally Pally is quite a way from us. Love fireworks though!

Overall knife crime is down. Not just deaths.

The two areas of London I know well dont have that much knife crime - I certainly hear about it when it happens but there does seem to be less and I can’t actually remember the last time I heard. As I have teenagers the news tends to go round fast (I sadly heard about the PH stabbing before it was on the news as DD had friends there that night)

You live near primrose hill on a road with weekly stabbings?

Yes, sadly so.

Knife crime stats are pointless. The majority don’t get reported.