Furious campaigners have spoken about their 'rage' at a letter sent to around 50 people banning them from the Manchester Caribbean Carnival. GMP's Xcaliber task force, an anti-gang unit, is understood to have sent the letters out recently to residents for the popular community event returning next month.
The letters, seen by the Manchester Evening News, state that the carnival, which takes place in Alexandra Park, off Princess Road on August 14 and 15, is a 'community event aimed at families and children' and that there will be a police presence to 'ensure a safe and pleasant atmosphere exists'. They go on to say: "The organisers have stated that no person who is either a member of a street gang, affiliated to a street gang, perceived by others to be associated to a street gang and/or suspected to be involved in criminal activity will be allowed entry."
These letters were targeted and sent to individuals on a 'case by case basis', police said. The letter adds: "This letter has been issued to YOU, based on an individual basis, as it is believed that YOU are either: A member of a street gang, affiliated to a street gang, perceived by others to be associated to a street gang, involved in criminal activity, or arrested at the festival 2019/2020/2021, involved or linked to serious youth violence."
READ MORE: Manchester’s Caribbean carnival returning in August to celebrate its 50th anniversary
People issued with letters will not be permitted entry to the event.
The carnival is returning after Covid postponements this year celebrating its 50th year anniversary and 60 years of Jamaican independence. Moss Side, where Alexandra Park sits, is known for its diverse community with strong Caribbean and African links and the carnival originally started as a way of bringing people mainly from Trinidadian and St Kitts & Nevis origin together in the early 1970s.
Since then the carnival has grown to celebrate the music, food, and culture of the Caribbean and beyond.
Moss Side has taken huge strides since the neighbourhood was a byword for gang violence in the 90s and mid 2000s. Community groups have worked tirelessly with schools and young people to reduce violence in the area, but campaigners say these letters damage that cause.
The Northern Police Monitoring Project has spoken out against the bans, describing them as an example of 'racist over-policing'. A statement from the group says: "It is with rage that we hear roughly 50 young people in our communities have received letters from GMP’s Xcalibre Task Force, preventing them from attending this year’s Manchester Caribbean Carnival.
"A ‘gang’ (something GMP have no definition for) is a deeply racist construct which finds young people – disproportionately black boys – labelled due to their friendships, interests or cultures. Evidence from groups and organisations such as Amnesty International UK have continued to show that the police, including GMP, label black boys ‘gang members’ with weak or non-existent evidence, conflate ‘gangs’ and youth violence, and build racist ‘gangs’ databases, all with an end goal of securing unjust prosecutions.
"Letters such as these are one of the many tactics at play in assigning the ‘gang’ label.
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"The journey of carnival from being a community event to a corporate spectacle will continue to play a significant part in its policing becoming even more harmful. Our anger sits not only with GMP for this approach, but with the event organisers who are actively complicit, providing legitimacy for the policing of carnival.
"Furthermore, the letter states ‘you will not be permitted entry to the carnival as per the wishes of the organisers and the community’. We reject this, knowing many members of our community will not want these letters circulated in their name.
"We ask members of the community attending carnival to be aware of this issue, and look out for young people – particularly black boys – hoping to attend. The police will be preventing entry of those ‘perceived’ to be in a ‘street gang’, and we know full well that perceptions, and the ‘gang’ label itself, are racist."
The NPMP have urged anyone who has been given this letter to reach out to them and for members of the community attending the festival to look out for each other. They added: "We want a safe Carnival too, and that includes safety from policing. As part of a wider anti-racist movement, NPMP remains committed to building effective non-policing solutions that keep us all safe."
In response, GMP to say that there have been incidents of 'serious violence' at the carnival in previous years, and this strategy of banning people from attending has been used in the past. “Caribbean Carnival is a long-established and well attended celebration," Chief Superintendent Rob Cousen, commander of GMP’s City of Manchester district, said.
"Every year, Greater Manchester Police works with partner agencies, including organisers, and members of the public to keep people as safe as possible. Sadly, in years gone by, there have been a number of incidents of serious violence which have posed a high risk of harm to those in attendance.
“Caribbean Carnival is a licenced event and is therefore subject to conditions of entry, agreed by all relevant parties, to prevent and reduce crime; harm; and anti-social behaviour. Since 2006, letters which outline these conditions have been sent to individuals about whom we have intelligence to suggest they may threaten the safety of the event. The recipients are wide ranging in terms of age, gender and ethnic background and are considered on a case by case basis.
“It is worth noting that this strategy is supported by both Manchester City Council, as the licencing authority, and the locality’s Independent Advisory Group (IAG). The group is made up of members of the public representing our diverse communities, who regularly feedback to GMP to ensure the force provides an outstanding service whilst serving its fundamental purposes.”
A spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: "The Council is committed to working with its partners to ensure the Caribbean Carnival can be a safe and happy celebration of the significant role the Caribbean community has had in the history of Manchester. As a result Greater Manchester Police and partner agencies have taken targeted steps to ensure this ambition can be realised.
"This course of action is not new and has taken place since 2006 to ensure a safe carnival celebration for all. This year's carnival, celebrating its 50th anniversary, should be a time to celebrate and the Council is certain that this year's outing will live up to such an important legacy."
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