by Mick the Ram

The 56th staging of the Notting Hill Carnival has once again seen the massive 2-day event marred by violence and crime.

The bank holiday celebration was attended by well over a million people, but sadly amongst the many enjoying themselves, there was still a minority seeing it as a criminal opportunity.

Three people were stabbed on the first day (Sunday 25th), including a mother who was with her young child and she remains in a critical condition in hospital.

A fourth person was stabbed the following day (Monday 26th) although their injuries were not said to be life-threatening.

There were 249 arrests over the two days for a wide range of offences, including: possession of firearms and offensive weapons, drugs, theft, assault, and harassment.

The carnival traces its roots back to the hundreds of thousands of migrants from the Caribbean who arrived in the UK after the second World War and has become one of the biggest street festivals anywhere in the world.

Almost impossible to stop those intent on causing trouble

Even though there were over 7,000 police officers patrolling the event, with the volume of people in attendance it was almost impossible to prevent disturbances and crime from those with the mindset to create trouble.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Ade Adelekan, who was in charge of the policing operation, was understandably frustrated at what he called a “family day” being marred by “unacceptable violence”.

Mother lucky to survive

He made those comments after the opening day when three people received stab wounds, with a 32-year-old mother narrowly avoiding being fatally wounded and her condition remains critical.

What makes it even worse Mr Adelekan said, was the fact that somebody committed the act whilst she was with her young child.

“We are tired of saying the same words every year and tired of telling families that their loved ones are seriously injured, or worse,” he remarked, before adding: “Carnival is a community event and the vast majority of people come to celebrate, to dance, to enjoy music and have a fantastic experience.

“It is the responsibility of all who value this event, who want to see it as the celebration it should be, to speak out and speak up about the violence that continues to overshadow it.”

Offenders not found

The other two stab victims were a 29-year-old, who has non life-threatening injuries, and a 24-year-old who was able to discharged himself after receiving hospital treatment.

There were 103 arrests on the first day, but unfortunately none were the perpetrators of the stabbings.

Various crimes lead to arrests

The second day saw another person stabbed, but their injuries were not said to be serious. A further 145 people were arrested, in the main for possessing an offensive weapon, or drug offences.

Several people were held for assaulting emergency workers, others for sexual offences and there was one arrest for having a firearm about their person. In addition, a vehicle was stopped, believed to be en route to Carnival, with another firearm seized.

An arrest was also carried out on a man wanted for an attempted murder in Hackney, east London in July, after he was spotted at Carnival.

Still a fabulous experience for most

Considering the vast numbers who took part in the Carnival, the trouble-makers represented a tiny percentage and for the vast majority it is a wonderful experience, which many believe is a worthy rival to the Rio Carnival, as the best in the world.

The event came about following the arrival of the Windrush generation and the racial tensions that followed, culminating in riots breaking out in 1958, including in the London district of Notting Hill, where many Caribbean migrants lived at the time.

The very next year Trinidadian activist Claudia Jones organised a Caribbean event in St Pancras Town Hall in response to race riots, which planted the seeds for the Notting Hill Carnival.

Sea of colour and sound

The vibrancy of the celebrations are something to behold, with incredible costumes worn by performers and characters marching or travelling on trucks, draped in colourful materials.

The vehicles also carry bands and sound systems playing soca and reggae tunes, and proudly displaying flags of many different Caribbean nations.