Notting-Hill carnival

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-104883 2/Police-pelted-beer-bottles-running-battles-g angs-invade-Notting-Hill-Carnival.html

Is it not time to call a halt to this carnival of violence?

An excerpt taken from the article.

Nowadays, the event is a massive police operation planned for throughout the year. This year, 200 letters were sent to known criminals warning them not to attend the event.

Wow! that's a good job, or the violence could have been a hell lot worse.

[obNOXious]

No, read the article.
A minority ( 40 or so out of thousands and thousands) caused trouble.
Maybe one or two stamp collectors might be serial killers, but you don't suggest banning stamp collector's fairs do you?
The NHC is a wonderful event and one which should be preserved, not allowed to be destroyed by a minority who will simply move on to the next event and do the same thing.

[abstract]

so around 850'000 people went,200 letters were sent out,40 threw bottles at the police and 180 were detained at oval station and as usual there were the arrests for drugs,public order etc.... so what is the percentage? and what is the percentage of the same occurences of trouble and violence that happens each weekend? so should we also shut down off license,pubs,bars and clubs? i didd'nt think so,you will always get rotten apples everywhere despite colour,religion and i dont think we should let them spoil it for the majority!

[jno]

but aog, this carnival has the effect of gathering together every black person in the southeast so the police can keep an eye on them all at once, and nice law-abiding folks can spend the day relaxing free from fear of crime. A good thing, surely? I mean, didn't your heart feel lighter over the weekend knowing you wouldn't be stabbed, mugged or sold spliffs?

[mike1222]

jno, how true your very astute observation is!!!
(yes, I know it was MEANT to be tongue-in-cheek!)

[BertiWooster]

Whats this about a football match then ?

Oops sorry - completely misread it .

[Lonnie]

I was working on both days of the Carnival, I drive on the Central Line, which serves Notting Hill, and from my perspective, and I must have carried thousands to and from that station, the majority were very well behaved, and only intent on enjoying themselves.

As a thought though, if they were to cancel it, I dread to think what would be the result.

[abstract]

probably hundreds of unlicensed,unwatched street partys every august bank holiday! WHOOHOO! and ill be conga'ing down every street! CARNIVAL FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Quinlad]

Even by your abysmal standards, AOG, this a rubbish one.

[ghetto poet]

dont you get tired of posting these loony race questions every day. Get a life you racist prat.

[terambulan]

The violence at the carnival is terrible and unfortunate for the organisers and participants. The threat of closure of this event must be worrying for them, after all their preparation and hard work.

It is a cultural event mainly for the caribbeans to present their music/costume/dance/their lovely foodies and their warmth and friendship. I would hate to see it cancelled as then the criminals would have won.

[jake-the-peg]

I'll bet the number of police officers per thousand attendees is on a level with or less than you have at football matches.

I never notice anyone calling to ban football when there is trouble at matches

[Quinlad]

...watch this space though.

It won't be long before AOG realises that the number of black footballers has risen since the 50s.

[Gromit]

I thought it was a cr@p film, I can't stand Hugh Grant or that woman with slugs for lips, and I certainly think a whole carnival devoted to it is over the top.

[China Doll]

It's the only time Notting Hill shows any sign of life in my experience.

[youngmafbog]

No, dont ban it and ruin for hundreds of thousnads but DO lock up the perpetrators of this kind of violence - whatever the colour of skin before some moron raises the race card again.

[anotheoldgit]

Apart from the usual few, who are incapable of entering into a debate, without their usual foul mouthed, and juvenile name calling, there are some good arguments for not wanting to stop the carnival, especially from terambulan.

The reason I posted this, was because of the disruption it causes to the residents of the area. Would those that champion the carnival, like to have their property spat on, urinated on, vomited on, with part eaten food thrown around and bottles thrown against? No I don't think many would.

Another reason for banning it, is the huge cost of policing it, not only during the 2 days but throughout the months leading up to it.

In my city we once had a annual carnival day (English style). On this summer day a number of lorry floats would be organised and junior and senior marching bands would lead these floats, from the city centre to one of the city parks. On this park there would be a fair complete with rides and stalls, charity stalls and competitions. But this has now been cancelled due to the cost of policing it. Although unlike the Notting Hill one, there was never any trouble at all.

Since all the trouble seemed to take part on the Bank Holiday Monday, why can't they just have the one day of fun?

[jake-the-peg]

I get idiot dog owners allowing their mutts deficate on my parking area every day of the year.

They are a minority - although probably more than 40 in 850,000.

I don't come on here calling for dog ownership to be banned!

I also think you'll get more than 40 trouble makers kicking off with the police around 2am when the nightclubs kick out in many cities on a weekly basis.

So as usual you're taking a news story and twisting it into your own warped perspective.

It's not subtle - I wouldn't "give up the day job" for a career in PR if I were you!

[Quinlad]

"Would those that champion the carnival, like to have their property spat on, urinated on, vomited on, with part eaten food thrown around and bottles thrown against? No I don't think many would."

I wouldn't like it. That's not a reason to ban it though. I know this will appall your inner Victor Meldrew but part of living in a society is that you have to put up with things that inconvenience you and bother you.

Only a tiny fraction of people would want to ban the Notting Hill Carnival. Or the FA Cup final. Or Glastonury. Almost any public gathering will require signifianct policing - and that will cost money.

The police presence at Diana's funeral was vast. It caused massive congestion for people living nearby and the litter problem afterwards was vast. Poor residents. Should that have been banned?

And I'm sure you've seen the police presence at the Remembrance Day ceremony in London. That's expensive too. Shall we ban that, mate?