Fears over terrorism mean armed police will patrol Lewes Bonfire

Sussex Police confirmed the armed officers will be out in force for tomorrow's celebrations with thousands of revellers set to line the streets as processions weave through the town.

Extended roadblocks have also been put in place due to the "national security threat" as authorities sharpen their senses following a spate of terror incidents linked to Islamic State.

In July this year, 84 people were killed in a lorry attack in Nice, France, while the country celebrated Bastille Day.

And the Paris attacks in November last year, in which gunmen and suicide bombers left 130 people dead and hundreds wounded, are still fresh in the mind.

Chief Superintendent Neil Honnor of Sussex Police said: "Lewes Bonfire is a high-profile crowded event, and although there is no specific reason to believe it will be targeted we have to consider the potential security threat.

"There will be additional road closures and some armed officers at the event on the night. In the current climate it is not unusual for armed officers to be at an event of this size.

"Due to the national security threat assessment and the evolving nature of the threat we have reviewed our response, as other forces around the country are doing continually, and as a result, despite not having any specific intelligence, have put additional security measures in place."

A Sussex Police spokeswoman added that, in the current climate, it is not unusual to see armed officers at an event the size of Lewes Bonfire.

But their presence will be a first for one of the oldest bonfire night celebrations in the world, dating back to the 1820s.

Peter Squires, professor of criminology and public policy at the University of Brighton, said an imposter could "hide in plain sight" at the loud and colourful event.

He told The Argus: "Clearly there is a massive potential public order issue and, given the concern about terror threats and the mobile mass casualty shootings we have seen, the police will be planning to have to deal with something like that."

He added: "The whole event is about carnival-esque flames and noise so it's an ideal opportunity to hide in plain sight."

All main roads going into Lewes will be closed on the night from 5pm with on-street parking suspended within the town from noon.

The extended roadblocks stretch to the Ashcombe roundabout near Kingston (blocking off Brighton Road to Lewes Prison) and the Southerham roundabout past the Cuilfail tunnel on the A26, with no designated drop-off areas for drivers on the A27. In addition, the A26 to Lewes will be closed from Earwig Corner at the junction of the B2192.

In years before, people were able to drive as near as the snail sculpture roundabout on the A26 but this year this will not be possible.

SECURITY A QUESTION OF RISK MANAGEMENT

WITH a medieval castle perched on the highest point in the town, Lewes has a long history as a fortified stronghold.

Tomorrow, Fortress Lewes becomes even more potent. Armed police officers will be on standby at the historic Lewes Bonfire for the first time.

And two main routes in will have extended roadblocks stretching out almost a mile from the town centre for the first time.

Police and the council have put in place the enhanced security measures in response to “the national security threat assessment”.

It is not hard to envisage what carnage could be caused at Lewes Bonfire if there was a repeat of the Nice attack in France in July, where 84 people were killed when a terrorist drove a lorry through crowds celebrating Bastille Day.

Or indeed what the toll could be if a gunman was on the loose in the town centre, mirroring the tragic scenes in Paris less than a year ago that saw 130 people murdered. Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for both atrocities.

Is this far fetched for Lewes? A Sussex Police spokeswoman said that in the current climate it was not unusual to see armed officers at an event the size of Lewes Bonfire.

Peter Squires, professor of criminology and public policy at the University of Brighton, told The Argus: “Clearly there is a massive potential public order issue and, given the concern about terror threats and the mobile mass casualty shootings we have seen, the police will be planning to have to deal with something like that.”

Chief Superintendent Neil Honnor of Sussex Police said the force’s response had been reviewed because of “the evolving nature of the threat” and that additional security measures included the additional road closures.

The extended roadblocks stretch to the Southerham roundabout on the A27 and Earwig Corner at the junction of the B2192 and the A26.

Another blockade stops people leaving the Ashcombe roundabout at the A27 near Kingston going towards Lewes Prison.

In years before, people were able to drive as near as the snail sculpture roundabout on the A26 but there is no chance of that this year.

Tellingly, according to Prof Squires, the Earwig Corner blockade means Sussex Police’s headquarters is also off-limits.

He said: “Whenever police do extra briefings, they do them at headquarters and these closures will, in part, be to do with clearing that area. That, I think, is part of it.

“It’s about control and the police’s own ability to be able to access the event quickly.”

Prof Squires cited large dangerous vehicles as one of the foreseen risks. The extended blockades put paid to the sort of run-up used by the lorry driver in the Nice killing spree. IS has previously called on its followers to attack crowds with cars and trucks.

Mr Squires said: “Even with a car to ram the crowd, it seems crazy to have to consider it but nowadays each of these eventualities will be tasked with a response.

“In this climate of heightened security police will want options in the context of mass-casualty attacks.”

He said the bangs and flashes of the event posed their own risks: “The whole event is about carnival-esque flames and noise so it’s an ideal opportunity [for an attacker] to hide in plain sight.”

Fewer people attending is something security forces will no doubt welcome.

The event commonly attracts more than 35,000 people.

But what may play to the advantage of the authorities this year is the train strike, which could put people off travelling.

Much of the advice issued speaks of how difficult it will be to get into Lewes, rather than explaining how it might be possible.

Prof Squires added: “It’s all about looking and listening and reporting back to the chain of command, reporting anything suspicious. But of course, in Lewes, in the spirit of the event, that’s going to be a difficult thing to do.

“That’s what gets these events banned and you have to take a bit of a risk, but it depends how much of a risk you are prepared to take.”

HISTORY OF THE CELEBRATIONS

LEWES Bonfire is all about the fifth of November and the events of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605.

Originally Lewes Bonfire had a huge anti-Catholic sentiment after the Catholic Guy Fawkes’ failed plot.

There have been effigies of the pope and banners stating Burn the Pope are still carried.

Celebrations in Lewes immediately after the event were carried out more at random than in any planned fashion and better resembled riots than a carnival.

They continued until they were banned by Oliver Cromwell during the Commonwealth but were reintroduced when King Charles II returned.

Interest tailed off by the end of the 18th century but in the 1820s large groups of Bonfire Boys started celebrating with fireworks and large bonfires.

The celebrations became rowdier and police were drafted in from London in 1847 to sort out the Bonfire Boys, leading to riots and fighting.

In 1850, bonfire crews were allowed back on the High Street of Lewes and, by this time, the former riots had become much more like the processions carried out today.

In 1853 the first two societies, Cliffe and Lewes Borough, were founded and most of the others were founded later in the same century.

Today there are six separate Lewes bonfire societies as well as a juvenile society all celebrating November 5 in various parts of the town, all with their own processions, traditions, costumes, fire sites and fire- works.

Each year there are about 20 to 30 visiting bonfire societies.

Recent events have seen more and more outlandish effigies, ranging from Osama Bin Laden to David Cameron puppeteering Nick Clegg.

Scottish first minister Alex Salmond was one effigy spared the bonfire after public outcry.

EXTRA BUS SERVICES WILL RUN

LEWES Bonfire will feel the effects of train strikes tomorrow as no services will stop in the town or several neighbouring stations after noon.

Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company is laying on extra services to and from Lewes as a result of the train strike.

Shuttle buses on the service 28 route stop at Old Steine, Elm Grove, Lewes Road bus garage and Coldean Lane in Brighton as well as at both universities before stopping at Malling Hill in Lewes. They leave every 10 minutes from 4.30pm until 8.30pm.

Return buses from Malling Hill in Lewes to the same stops in Brighton run from 9pm until 12.30am.

These services run in addition to the normal scheduled number 28 buses, which will run to a ten-minute frequency.

Adrian Strange, the service quality manager for Brighton and Hove Buses, said nine extra contracted buses were being put on.

He said: “There are more services going towards Lewes because we want to make sure any Lewes residents get home with no issue.”

“This also supports our normal scheduled services.”

He said the train strikes this year could have an impact on passenger numbers.

Trains will not be stopping at Lewes Station or at London Road (Brighton), Moulsecoomb, Falmer and Glynde until normal services resume on Sunday, November 6.

This is because of ongoing industrial action between the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers’ union and Southern Railway.

Lewes District Council has said alternative routes for residents of the town are available through the Lewes Tourist Information Centre and at lewes.gov.uk/bonfire.

A spokeswoman for the council added: “Both residents and visitors intending to come to Lewes’s bonfire celebrations are being asked to take note of the changes and, if they still intend to travel that day, to plan their journeys with great care.”