Police warn against unofficial events
CARNIVAL WILL BE STRICTLY ONLINE ONLY
NORMALLY the streets of West London are packed with more than two million revellers over August Bank Holiday weekend for the Notting Hill Carnival.
But in May this year the event – which is billed as Europe’s largest street party – was cancelled for safety reasons because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It typically attracts 2.5m people with 9,000 police and 40,000 volunteers attending.
Organisers are planning an online event instead for safety reasons because of the coronavirus pandemic.
But a senior police officer revealed that police wearing face masks will be on hand to disperse any unofficial parties unconnected to Carnival that weekend to help prevent any flare ups of coronavirus.
Chief superintendent Helen Harper who is in charge of policing in Kensington and Chelsea said they are building up intelligence to prevent any large gatherings.
She told Kensington and Chelsea councillors she anticipated a “challenging” time over the August Bank Holiday.
It comes after the borough was the scene for some unofficial gatherings after lockdown eased last month.
Police broke up an unlicensed street party in Colville Gardens at the end of June. It was one of several events across the capital as temperatures soared and people got together despite social distance guidelines.
Chief Supt Harper said that police were prepared for any unofficial events and the police who were scheduled to work over Carnival are still rostered for duty.
Councillor Janet Evans wanted to know about plans for coping with “the spontaneous possibility that might spring up” following the recent unlicensed events in the borough.
Chief Supt Harper said; “The good news is that all the officers who would have been on duty anyway for Notting Hill Carnival and for most officers working in the Met, that is a force-rostered working weekend, so there are plenty of resources across the Met on duty.”
She said they are still on duty even though there is no Carnival this year.
“There will be sufficient resources to deal with whatever challenges there are that weekend can bring us.
“We are working really hard with our colleagues at the public order branch who are monitoring the intelligence and the information in relation to any unlicensed music event, any plans by any significant groups to gather and to host a party,” she explained.
Police are also talking to the council and community “to make sure that our officers are where we need them to be and we are doing everything we possibly can to prevent disorder happening and any large scale gatherings from taking place.”
“We very much want to explain and to encourage people to do the right thing and be sensible.”
Kensington and Chelsea Council has been assured a policing plan is in place for Carnival weekend and is also talking to pubs and bar owners about running their businesses safely and limiting noise disturbance.
It has also got a clear up plan in place, but is keen to encourage people to enjoy the ‘virtual’ Carnival and stay safely apart this year.