Footage of a street brawl in Bridge Approach

• ARTICLES like Gatesgate – a quest for peace in Primrose Hill in the May 13 New Journal have a valid point about some anti-social behaviour of young people recently, and a street brawl on Bridge Approach, (not exactly Primrose Hill).

However I live five minutes’ walk from Primrose Hill, visit it frequently, often in the evening, and I think the claims are exaggerated.

OK, immediately after lockdown lots of young people were letting off much-needed steam after being cooped up at home for over a year and missing out on school and social activities, at an age when they most need such activities, and had painfully thwarted energy levels.

So, as soon as they possibly could they convened with their peers in a healthy park environment, who they’d been seriously deprived of real social interaction with for months on end – especially in a culture which promotes youth culture.

Yes, there was a lot of rubbish strewn around Primrose Hill for a few weeks, which was very bad, but it’s not so bad now!

Most were and are socialising in small groups and some larger groups, with some music, yes, but mainly pleasantly and not literally partying or being anti-social.

The police no doubt had reason (including a knife scare) to put up notices about “Persis­tently anti-social behaviour” – and the park being closed at 10pm.

But while encouraging socially civil standards, please show some understanding and empathy and give these young people a little leeway in these unprecedented circumstances!

ANNE SEAGULL
Chalcot Road, NW1