Notting Hill revellers down
The number of people who went to the Notting Hill Carnival this weekend was significantly down this year, but the event passed with little or no trouble.
The Metropolitan Police stated that around 600,000 people attended the event in the capital this weekend, which was down from the estimated 800,000 that attended last year.
The Metropolitan Police deployed 9,715 officers to marshal the event this year and claimed that its intelligence led policing of the event helped it to pass off without any troubles.
186 arrests were made this year, with the majority, 63, being drug related. Only 25 arrests were made for offensive weapons and 11 for assault.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Trotter, commented, ‘This was a demanding event for us to police this weekend and I would like to thank all our officers for their hard work and good humour. We have seen an excellent level of co-operation between all partners involved and the stewarding support my officers received was first class.
‘I am looking forward to next year and how we can build on both the stewarding plan and our intelligence led policing to make Carnival a safer and more successful event in the future.’
The cost of policing the Notting Hill carnival is expected to be around £5 million
The police stated that 273 people had been injured at this year’s event, including 10 police officers, and 133 people had been taken ill. However, only 60 people required hospitalisation.
Organisers hope that next year’s event will be bigger as the carnival celebrates its 40th year in existence.
