Restricted minutes from the 2017 Lambeth Country Show de-briefing meeting have revealed that the Met Police believe that young people “do not contribute to the Show in any way.”

One of the outcomes of the 2017 de-briefing meeting was to put in place the Great Wall of Brockwell for the 2018 event. This was a move that was seen by many as devaluing the Show as a community event that was welcoming for all.

Brixton Buzz submitted a Freedom of Information request to Lambeth Council in May 2018 to see the minutes of the 2017 de-briefing meeting. We wanted to see what was discussed that led to the appearance of the Great Wall of Brockwell for the first time in the history of the show.

Our request was refused. We appealed, only for this to be refused as well. The case is currently sitting with the Information Commissioner.

Now we know why Lambeth Council is so keen to keep the secretive minutes from the meeting out of the public domain.

Green Cllr Jonathan Bartley has been given access to the minutes. He referenced them in his Opposition Statement at Lambeth Full Council on Wednesday evening.

Bartley said:

“A wall was put around the Lambeth Country Show in Brockwell Park. And a wall of silence has surrounded the reasons. The council refused to publish the minutes of the debrief after the 2017 event. But I’ve got a copy here. The minutes show the police dismissing and devaluing our young people saying they do not – and I quote – “contribute to the Lambeth Country Show in any way”

There was no funfair at the 2018 event. This was a space within the show that was enjoyed by young people in the borough. No official reason has been given about why it was withdrawn.

Bartley’s statement at Full Council added:

“This is outrageous. And it is pretty clear who is actually being referred to – and that is a certain type of young person. This is discrimination. The minutes are preoccupied instead only with the appearance of discrimination. Extra police they state would look discriminatory. The council’s decision to erect a wall – along with a stop and body search policy – appears to follow advice that it would be “a massive deterrent” – without the appearance of discrimination. Council when we see racism we should call it racism and not base policy upon it. These minutes should be published and the decision to wall off the Lambeth Country Show should be reversed.”

Brixton Buzz has also requested to see minutes for the de-briefing meeting for the 2018 Lambeth Country Show. These were also refused. We have lodged an internal review.

We have also asked to see the de-briefing minutes for the Field Day and Mighty Hoopla festivals that took place at Brockwell Park this summer. Lambeth Council has ignored our request. This is now being taken up with the Information Commissioner.