Anyone who takes the time to research the statistics of crime and drug usage at the Notting Hill Carnival against those of other comparable British Festivals will see the truth for themselves.
Such scaremongering and wild prophesies of the apocalypse does nothing to bolster public confidence in the credibility of the Metropolitan Police as they have allowed themselves to become pawns behind a broader political agenda.
There is good reason for concern in regards to violence at the Notting Hill Carnival because this festival uniquely takes place on the streets and so there is reason to fear for public safety, but these are challenges that should be addressed in the same way that the police strategically sought to combat football violence.
The correct analysis and context of the crime statistics bandied about by the Metropolitan Police tells a completely different story when put into context alongside other British cultural and music festivals.
Firstly, the reason for the inflated arrest figures for Carnival 2016 are:
- The introduction of the Psychoactive Substance Act (Which accounted for 38 arrests).
- The introduction of Section 60 over the entire carnival area, that gave the police the authority to stop and detain people without reason.
- The “zero tolerance” directive given by senior police command.A report commissioned by Tory MP, Lady Victoria Borwick, concluded via a poll taken amongst residents that 82% of Notting Hill residents find carnival to be a “good” or “very good” thing.
* This was their own report yet this fact is very rarely mentioned and Lady Borwick continues to deliberately distort the findings by briefing that residents do not want the event.
* The carnival board need to get their act together and get on the offensive to regain control of the narrative and to counter the negative wave of media publicity that is damaging both the reputation and legacy of the Notting Hill Carnival. The mas makers and musicians who sacrifice their time and energy to make the carnival happen deserve their rightful recognition. Such distractions undermine and take away from the hard work that they invest in the event year in and year out.
Boris Johnson pictured with members of the Genesis Mas band, who will be performing at the Notting Hill Carnival this weekend, at Potters Fields in central London. Photo courtesy http://www.digitalspy.com
When discussing crime and drugs at the Notting Hill Carnival it is important to give it context within the broader framework of other UK festivals that took place in 2016:
1. The death of Ashton Launcherley who was found doused in petrol and engulfed in flames at Glastonbury in 2016.
2. The drug related death of an 18 year-old and the seizure of £70,000 worth of drugs at the Boomtown Fair in Winchester.
3. The drug related deaths of Megan Ball and Peter McCallum at the T in the Park festival.
4. The drug death of a 17 year-old at the Leeds festival.
5. Bestival event on the Isle of Wight. 50,000 attendance.
- 106 reports of thefts from tents. Muggings at knifepoint (Statistically equates to 2000 reported crimes at Notting Hill Carnival)
- They report an increase in crime of 30%
- They say that £175,000 worth of drugs seized. (Equivallent to £3.5M)
(Yet despite these shocking statistics, the police are quoted as describing the event as a success)
Crime, drugs and the numbers of deaths that have taken place across England music/cultural festivals this year have been downplayed by the media, yet they continue to defame the Notting Hill Carnival.
Without doubt there is a racial angle in regards to the disparity in the way that the carnival is reported in comparison to these other music festivals.
