Every year, the Notting Hill Carnival brings a vibrant explosion of culture to the streets of London, but it also brings a familiar debate regarding policing and safety. While organizers champion the event’s cultural significance, official narratives often focus on crime statistics. We look beyond the headlines to find the truth about the relationship between the community and the authorities.
The Metropolitan Police Federation represents front-line police officers. They recently surveyed officers about their feelings about working at the carnival. The survey received 486 responses from officers. Many said they felt unsafe, and 88% felt at risk.
Some officers described the carnival as a “war zone.” One officer said it felt like “hell,” while another stated that people treated officers like “lambs to the slaughter.”
The survey revealed that 28% of the officers had assaulted people while working at
