Police Federation statement:

"Last year we had an officer stabbed. This year colleagues were assaulted, abused and spat at. Forty-three were injured - with eight needing hospital treatment. How can that be right? It's completely and utterly unacceptable. "A seemingly growing number of people appear intent on hijacking this Carnival and turning it into a Bank Holiday battleground. The Glastonbury music festival had 40 arrests this year. Notting Hill had 10 times that amount.

"The organisers need to understand that this event cannot carry on regardless. I think many Londoners will wonder whether the significant amount of taxpayers' money spent policing this event is frankly worth it."

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I bet the requests for holiday that week outstrip Christmas!

Optimistic as ever

I highly suspect they didn't follow their noses upon every whiff of weed at Notting Hill either.

It's been pretty dodgy since the early 90s, rather than just recent history. I think the only quietish one of recent years was when the poor little darlings were already rioted out from earlier that summer.

Optimistic as ever

Given the crime levels each year its about time they stopped the Carnival. Would like to know what the Police bill alone is for this. 500 Arrests. 6 stabbings. 46 Police injured. Lots of fights and the organisers were pleased with how things went.

Actually I'm saying they don't have much of a choice but to police this festival differently. Less trouble and violence, the more hands off the police will be with festivals.

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
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As far as in understand all Leave was refused for that weekend, as well as Notting Hill, there was SW4 Festival & Madness on Clapham Common & Croydon Gay Pride. In fact some shifts were extended, with Police officers finishing at 2 or 3 in the morning and then being back at 7.00am, I know that some slept in their cars at the nick rather than go home for 2 hours. If you managed to book leave you were very very lucky.

I ride a GS scooter with my hair cut neat
I wear my war time coat in the wind and sleet.

And sadly Apollo is telling the truth here... How on earth the Police get away with allowing this I just dont know.

The issue is is there is still a mentality that exists in the Police that if you complain at only having a few hours sleep (by law it's supposed to be 11 hours between shifts) then you will be looked upon as 'weak' or a 'whinger' and will most probably find that you will get given a series of s*** postings or find that your applications for other roles aren't supported.

Very sad that this way of thinking still exists.

Anyway should carnival continue??... Residents forced from their homes and have to board up their property?... A million people crammed into an area of one square mile??... Ridiculous level of crime? (And that's only the reported crime) And all at a cost of around £8 million to the taxpayer??.... Sounds like a bargain!!

We all know that no politician that carries any weight will ever be brave enough to suggest cancelling this.

Don't waste your time with jealousy. Sometimes your ahead, sometimes your behind, the race is long. But in the end it's only with yourself!!