Carnival crime report
Thousands of Londoners turned out over the bank holiday weekend to enjoy the spectacle of the Notting Hill Carnival.
Commander Dave Musker, who was Gold Command for Carnival, said: “Notting Hill Carnival is one of the best attended carnivals in the world and a highlight for London and particularly the communities of west London. The weekend brings together a wide range of people from all over the Capital, and beyond. We have worked closely with the event organisers, Notting Hill Carnival Ltd and the stewards, to ensure a safe and spectacular event.
“We would like to thank all those who took to the streets to celebrate everything that the Carnival stands for, in a kind and considerate manner. However Monday night was marred by the news of a non-life threatening stabbing at around 20:10 in Ladbroke Grove. Thankfully this was the only incident of this nature throughout the whole weekend.
“On both Saturday and Sunday, I authorised a Section 60 Order across the Carnival area in response to the recent increase in violent crime in the capital. For the first time we also included screening arches at certain locations, to deter those who may have been planning on coming to the event, armed with an offensive weapon. We believe they acted as a successful deterrent, as well as detecting a substantial number of offensive weapons. I am very pleased with the results of the screening arches and the Section 60 order; 36 offensive weapons were taken off the streets by my officers and 373 arrests were made over the course of the weekend, which we expect could rise.
“Thousands of officers worked over the weekend to keep visitors safe and I am extremely proud of their dedication, professionalism and positivity; especially with the weather conditions on Sunday being particularly challenging. Without their hard-work and commitment, Notting Hill Carnival would not be able to go ahead.
“I would also like to thank our colleagues at the British Transport Police and the City of London Police for their support over the weekend.
“Although I am happy with how the event ran overall, once again, 30 of my colleagues were injured in the line of duty. Any assault on police is unacceptable.
“The smooth running of this year’s event also would not have been possible without the support of the Mayor of London, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, Westminster Council, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and our emergency service colleagues. They, along with the stewards on the scene, helped run one of the smoothest and most efficient Carnivals I have seen.
“Carnival is one of London’s best attended events, celebrating the diversity of this amazing city. Unfortunately there is still a minority that seek to tarnish this celebration and we will continue to review our security measures to ensure that going forward, Notting Hill Carnival is a day that is enjoyable and safe for everyone attending.”
The relevant Carnival information from the council can be found here: https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/events/notting-hill-carnival
