Matthew Steeples suggests the Notting Hill Carnival is an unnecessary drain on already overstretched resources
Many will suggest I am wrong to say it, but I truly believe the Notting Hill Carnival is something that causes more trouble than it is worth.
With 300 arrests and 190 knives and 18 firearms supposedly recovered already prior to the event even commencing, this is plainly an occasion that is taking up too much police time. Of it, an officer I currently dealing with regarding another matter told me Tuesday: “We cannot do other work until after the carnival is over.”
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Last year, according to The Guardian, 9,000 officers were drafted in to police this event and given locals are forced to board up their houses also, one must question whether this gathering contributes to the community or detracts from it. Past suggestions to relocate the event to Hyde Park have been angrily rejected by enthusiasts but maybe, as Britain teeters on the edge of another age of austerity, it is time to again consider that. The Notting Hill Carnival, in my humble opinion, is a nuisance and I, for one, will most definitely not be attending.
Readers have their say
13 comments
Looks like the bloke in the picture has had a few tinnies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don’t know what you are moaning about —– sounds like a great opportunity to get pissed and meet birdies!!!!!!!!!
I enjoyed the multi-cultural aspect to the event when I visited a few years back. It is a little bit dirty though and I saw men urinating in gardens.
Oh, Dana…..you sound such a dope!
But don’t be a killjoy! Go along and enjoy it.
Dana clearly doesn’t live in the area in which this thing is held. Dumb bitch!
I have long thought that the Notting Hill Carnival is little more than an opportunity for every drug dealer in West London to have a big party, up their marketplace and settle a few scores whilst they are at it. Every year it is a disaster waiting to happen for that community, a nuisance for the local residents and a huge drain on the already over-stretched local police. It has no place in that area and if it exists at all it should be in an area of Hyde Park where there is less opportunity for surubtitious illegal behaviour.
well put
As a resident I think locals should have a referendum on whether to keep it or move to Hyde Park or elsewhere. It’s hell for us and utter misery for police (all the officers I spoke to last year said they hated doing it).
Carnival did wonderful for things for Notting Hill when it started and has brought a lot of tourism and publicity to London, but in recent years it has harmed the area and I think it should move to another part of London where it can do good again. Places like Tottenham or Peckham or Catford need the help and have more space to accommodate the 1 million + visitors who crowd into our tiny streets over two days.
We need to think out of the box and fans need to be flexible now.
I agree – It is a bloody waste of time and a nuisance to locals.
Hyde Park perfect and spare the abused locals who look upon it with dread.
Matthew is 100% correct.
It’s a burden for every resident.
We inhabitants of Rockall look forward to having it next year as one of our major tourist events in the season. In case you don’t know the other one is the Rock Festival held at the same time as Glastonbury Festival weekend. Our police chief Baz Irite knows how to deal with unruly elements and that’s why we have a zero crime rate on the island.
What a dump! Wouldn’t live there if you paid me.