ORGANISERS of the village’s annual Remembrance Sunday service claim visitors could be put in danger because the police refuse to control traffic.
Officers from Harrow Police have helped in previous years but this year organisers have been told they will have to provide marshals to inform motorists of the road closures in Pinner High Street, which organisers say is not sufficient and they want the police’s full support.
Gordon Williams, a member of Pinner Association and Pinner’s United Services Club which together organise the event, said: “Remembrance Sunday service is an important annual event for Pinner and has been going on for years in the village. The police should cooperate and help out, as they always have done.
“If they don’t control the traffic, then it could become dangerous for residents. Loads of people attend the service and there is a lot of traffic about.”
On the day, on November 11, there will be a a procession by the choir and ministers from St John’s Parish Church at the top of the High Street to the war memorial, where a service wwwill be held and 38 organisations, including the local police, scouts, girl guides and local schools, will lay a wreath.
Previous years have attracted hundreds of people.
Mr Williams, 70, of Cuckoo Hill Road, Pinner, added: “The police used to be part of the community, but certainly not any more. All their considerable efforts at integrating with the community over many years have been seriously affected. I have not seen and heard such anger in all my years in Pinner – and I was born in the village.”
Cynthia Wells, of Pinner Association added: “This service happens every year and is a big event in Pinner. The service is very moving and the police themselves lay a wreath. It is a community event and I don’t know why they won’t help us out this year, they have every other year.”
The police say they have held meetings with organisers to explain they won’t be marshalling traffic and that the legal obligation is on the organisers to keep the public safe at the event, but Mr Williams said the police has offered no explanation as to the reasons why it is not being involved like previous years.
Chief Inspector of Safer Neighbourhoods and Partnership Russell Hughes said: “Officers from Harrow Police have always been in attendance at Remembrance Day services, a tradition we are proud to maintain.
“During the detailed planning for these events, Harrow Police have held discussions with both the event organisers and Harrow Council. We have explained to the organisers that there are legal obligations placed on event organisers in terms of public safety.
“As with any public event, it is the responsibility of the organiser to secure a Traffic Management Order from the local authority and to provide marshals to inform motorists of the road closures. Harrow police have held numerous meetings with event organisers and ward panel members to ensure that there is no misunderstanding about our respective roles and responsibilities.”
n Pinner’s Remembrance Day Service is at the war memorial in High Street on Sunday, November 11, from 10.45am to 11.15am.
A wreath laying ceremony is being held on Wednesday, October 24, from 2.15pm to 2.30pm at the Peace Garden in Pinner Memorial Park, Chapel Lane, Pinner.
