Ugly scenes at Notting Hill Carnival should signal its end
Telergraph says his year’s Notting Hill Carnival, supposedly a celebration of Caribbean heritage, culture and arts, had eight stabbings — the most since 2016. The Metropolitan Police said 308 arrests were made over Sunday and Monday, up by a third on last year, including for sexual offences and possession of drugs and offensive weapons. More than 50 police officers were kicked, bitten, punched or spat upon. Disturbing photographs showed men wielding machetes. A police union representative rightly described the violence as “unsustainable”, which must prompt questions about why the carnival is allowed to continue.
The usual lazy defences will be trotted out in support of the two-day street party that is now the biggest event of its kind in the world. It is a unique and significant