Haringey Council and the Metropolitan Police have been accused of “abusing terrorism legislation” at a major London music festival.
In a temporary traffic order ahead of the annual hip hop and rap Wireless festival in Finsbury Park this Friday (July 7) to Sunday (July 9), a notice stated the order is for “a purpose relating to danger or damage connected with terrorism”.
The order was also active for other Festival Republic events last weekend including Jamie T, Pulp and The 1975 (June 30 to July 2).
While traffic restrictions are nothing new for Finsbury Park music events, this year is understood one of the first times where a terrorism-related order was used.
Clive Carter, a former Haringey councillor, said: “I think this is the first time that they've attempted to justify road closures on the basis of terrorism, there’s been huge road closures with every Wireless as far as I can remember, but I've never before seen a justification of terrorism.
“It needs an explanation.”
He added: “If there's a real current threat then the council needs to warn people. And if there's not, they still need to explain why.
“They’re justifying all the traffic disruption for the first time ever on the basis of terrorism. It's just bizarre.”
While the former councillor understands that restrictions are needed to deal with the “thousands” in the area during the event, he questions why it was decided to use terrorism legislation this year and if it is an abuse of such an order.
Under the order, Seven Sisters Road will be shut from its junction with Green Lanes to its junction with Hornsey Road.
Stroud Green Road will also be shut from its junction with Tollington Park / Upper Tollington Park to its junction with Seven Sisters Road.
The notice reads: “Pedestrian access may also be prohibited at such times as directed by police constable (sic) or event stewards or security guards employed by a company contracted to provide security for the Finsbury Park events.”
Lots of police in attendance for Finsbury #Wireless Park N4 on 30th June '23. Many vans in the Hackney streets off Seven Sisters Road and at entrances to the event park. Good job no wheelchair officers patrolling around as those stacked metal barriers might have been an obstacle. pic.twitter.com/5aMp1eb8cx
— N17 Creative Action (@MartinBallN17) July 1, 2023
When asked about the decision, a Haringey Council spokesperson said: “The police have given us formal instructions to issue this order and to provide added security when a big event is staged.
“This will allow the police greater powers to manage a situation if an incident takes place.”
A Met Police spokesperson explained: “A temporary traffic order has been used in previous years at the event.
“A decision was made by the Met to instead use an anti-terrorism traffic regulation order this year.
“This ensures the most appropriate basis for the use of hostile vehicle mitigation, which is a common police tactic to keep crowds safe at major events.”
Hostile vehicle mitigation means the use of vehicle barriers or traffic calming measures.
Festival Republic, which runs Wireless, has been approached for comment.
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