Police claim success for their strategy policing the Notting Hill Carnival this year

Notting Hill Carnival – photograph Alex Lund

Few serious crimes in an estimated crowd of more than a milllion

Sunny weather, joyful music and dazzling costumes attracted thousands of people to the Notting Hill Carnival over the weekend, Europe’s biggest street party, which this year celebrated its 57th year, sending a strong message of multicultural unity.

More than a million people were expected to attend, joining in with performers celebrating the traditions of the Caribbean, with groups such as Chocolate Nation, Mas Africa and Bajan Raw Licquer reflecting the heritage of Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St Lucia, Grenada, Jamaica, Dominica and Haiti.

Police worked with the organisers and the charity Crimestoppers to make sure a tiny minority of violent men were not able to disrupt the enjoyment of those who went to enjoy it. There were 7,000 police on duty over the weekend to patrol the crowds.

The Metropolitan Police say there have been far fewer incidents of serious violence than in previous years, as a result of their ‘proactive’ policing operation.

In the weeks leading up to the Carnival they asked the public for information regarding potential violent offenders intending to cause trouble and used facial recognition software and knife arches to screen people arriving.

READ ALSO: Police arrest 100 people ahead of this year’s Notting Hill Carnival

Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward, the policing commander for Notting Hill Carnival this year, said:

“We thank the organisers and others who spoke out in the days and weeks ahead of the event to emphasise what Carnival stands for, to reject violence and to urge anyone planning to come for conflict or confrontation to stay at home.

“All of this joint effort has helped to make this this year’s Carnival a safer event for all.”

The police arrested 100 people and taken dozens of weapons off the street before the Carnival started. They reported at 8.00 pm on Monday night (25 August) there had been 423 arrests among the thousands who attended over the two main days of the Carnival.

Of these, 52 were as a result of using the controversial Live Facial Recognition software which has been criticised for its accuracy.

There were two stabbings, but neither resulted in life threatening injuries. Last year 18-year-old Kamani Spooner was fatally stabbed by 19 year-old Rumarni Tuitt, who he did not know, with a Zombie knife. Tuitt was sentenced to 18 years detention and the sale of Zombie knives has since been banned.

Most of the weekend arrests were for drug offences – 70 for possession of cannabis, 32 for possession of Class A drugs and 44 for supplying drugs.

There were 40 people arrested for committing violence, 18 for sexual offences and 32 for assault on police officers. There were five people arrested for committing robbery and 46 for being in possession of an offensive weapon.

Commander Charmain Brenyah, the Met’s spokesperson for Carnival, said:

“The vast majority come to have fun and enjoy themselves, to celebrate Caribbean culture, to dance, to eat and to go home with nothing but good memories.

“Regrettably we know a minority come with less positive intentions and in recent years this has played out in the form of serious violence including three tragic incidents where lives have been taken.

“The actions of this minority are totally at odds with the values of those who care passionately about Carnival and we acknowledge those, including the event organisers, who have stood up to condemn violence and serious criminality in the run up to this weekend”.

Photographs Alex Lund

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