BRAMPTON: Proposal to move carnival route after town centre yobs disgrace

Proposal to move carnival route after town centre yobs disgrace

BRAMPTON’S carnival could be moved out of the town centre after disorderly behaviour, culminating in eight arrests, marred the end of this year’s event.

The carnival committee is thinking about moving the parade and dancing after police arrested people for actual bodily harm, assault, being drunk and disorderly and for public order offences in the afternoon and evening following the event.

Karen Vernon, secretary of Brampton and district carnival committee, said: “The carnival could be moved out of the town – it is something we are thinking about but we haven’t made a decision. It will carry on in some form or another.”

Police were first called to a fight in Main Street at 3pm on Saturday, August 25, after which a man was given a fixed penalty notice for a public order offence, a spokesman for Brampton Police said.

Then they attended a fight outside the White Lion pub, when two women were arrested for common assault and were reported for summons.

And in the early evening a man was arrested and cautioned for causing actual bodily harm, three people were arrested to prevent a breach of the peace – although no further action was taken against any of them – and one person was arrested and charged for being drunk and disorderly.

Police were also called to another disturbance at Market Place at 9.25pm although it had finished by the time officers arrived and no arrests were made.

“It is a shame that after such a lot of hard work a small minority had to spoil it for the people of the town,” Karen said.

“There was some trouble after the carnival.

“It involved youths and was alcohol related.”

She said the carnival had otherwise been a success and the disturbances had involved only a minority of people.

Judith Pattinson, chair of Brampton parish council, said she would back the carnival committee whatever it chose to do.

“It would be a shame to move it but if it is the right thing to do we will support them.

“It is so frustrating when a minority of people behave badly – it is selfish. They have to learn to control their drinking. We can’t put up with that sort of behaviour.”

Langholm Pipe Band led the parade at the annual carnival, the eighth, and was followed by the carnival queen.
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