Leicester: Police concern over plans for music festival in park

Organisers say more than 7,000 people attended last year's Africa Music Festival in Nelson Mandela Park

Police have raised concerns about a proposal to stage a musical festival in a Leicester park.

The organisers of the Africa Music Festival want to hold the event in Abbey Park at the end of August.

However Leicestershire Police has asked the city council to refuse a licence for the event.

The force said it was concerned about a repetition of crime and disorder experienced when the same event was held in Nelson Mandela Park last year.

Y2K Entertainment said changing the venue of the event for 2024 would help address concerns, which also included noise and public nuisance.

The company met police and council representatives on Tuesday and was told a decision on the future of the event would be made within five days.

'Serious shortfalls'

Alex Marapara, of Y2K, told the BBC: "We are optimistic it will be a safe event and we have explained why to the police and the council.

"Moving it to Abbey Park will help us improve the overall safety of it."

Mr Marapara said between 7,000 and 8,000 people attended the last festival in Nelson Mandela Park which showcased dance and music groups and artists from Zimbabwe, the UK and US.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Leicestershire Police said there were "serious shortfalls" with it.

In a report to the council, officers said: "The applicant hasn't been in contact to discuss this application with the police despite holding a like event on Nelson Mandela Park in August 2023.

"A previous festival operated by Y2K at Nelson Mandela Park last year resulted in serious shortfalls being exposed, especially in relation to the number of security provisions. The event did experience incidents of crime and disorder, public nuisance and public safety."

Both the council and police said the proposals submitted by Y2K lacked enough detail to convince them last year's issues would not reoccur or that the event would be safely and appropriately run, the LDRS said.

Y2K told the LDRS it would work with police, provide security and stewards and carry out drug searches.

The council's noise team also raised concerns about the impact the festival could have on neighbours.