Brixton Splash festival cancelled after 'huge amount of drug taking' and surge in violence

Festival: revellers at the Brixton Splash
Abdoul Kouyate
Ben Morgan16 February 2016

Brixton’s annual free Splash street party has been called off after a reported spike in violence, drug-taking and arrests marred last year’s tenth anniversary event.

Lambeth Council last night rejected an application for this summer’s party saying south London’s answer to the Notting Hill Carnival had become “a victim of its own success” and grown “potentially dangerous”.

More than 40,000 people attended last August’s Splash, leading to complaints from residents about noise, crime and a “mountains” of litter.

A gun was seized from one reveller among the 40 arrested.

A council report into the event alleged a “huge amount of drug taking”, including event staff recruited as ambassadors smoking cannabis.

The council now wants to install a new management board and recruit a new team of volunteers to plan the 2017 Splash.

Revellers at Brixton Splash on its 10th birthday last year

Ros Griffiths, who helped found the festival but stepped aside in 2010, said she hoped the postponement would allow a fresh start.

She said: “Last year the local reaction was that it has lost direction.

“Traders were complaining, residents were complaining and there was a problem. The event got too big and moved away from what it was meant to be about.”

She said the original event was aimed to showing Brixton’s independent traders and talented young people, using local businesses and products to keep the money within the neighbourhood.

Ms Griffiths added: “The council has a duty of care to make sure all visitors are safe. They cannot have an event spiralling out of control or wait for something to happen. It became a high risk event.

“This year’s event has been put on pause to be reviewed and planned for 2017. We want it to be the centrepiece in everyone’s social diary next summer.”

The Splash is a non-profit community organisation established in 2005 which also runs an outreach programme for young people to get access to the arts, part-funded by the Arts Council.

Organisers also offered a qualified stewarding training programme for young people to get work experience controlling the crowds during the event.

The company currently has three board members but none were available for comment last night.

In a statement the board said the town hall planned to take over the festival and accused the council of “railroading” them.

They added: “Lambeth’s dwindling financial support and physical support over the last few years shows its true feelings towards the event.”

A Lambeth council spokesperson said: “Sadly, last year’s event became a victim of its own success and we need to pause it for this year, let the community take it back to its roots as a safe, fun event for everyone with professional organisation.

“Road closures, a lack of stewards and inadequate crowd control have added to a sense from local people that the event is too big, too uncontrolled and potentially dangerous.”

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