NOT ONLY did the show go on but Notting Hill Carnival proved its naysayers wrong with a peaceful fun-filled event, London’s VoiceOnline site reports. For more photos follow the link below.
Despite a small shower of rain, even the dubious summer weather got into the festival spirit with the sun shining down on the hundreds of thousands of people who turned out for two-day celebration of Caribbean culture.
Sariah Martin, 23, of west London, told The Voice: “I come every year and wasn’t going to be put off but all the hysteria in the media.
“Carnival is always full of good vibes and I believed people would come here to have an even better time especially because of all that has happened. This is what London is all about.”
A record number of police officers were on duty and 245 arrests – only two up from last year – were made for offences including drug possession and public disorder.
Officers are investigating the stabbing of a 20-year-old man near the parade route in west London on Bank Holiday Monday.
He is said to be in a serious condition in hospital. Five people – a boy aged 17, three 20-year-old men and a man aged 21 – are being held in custody.
Tim Godwin, the Metropolitan (Met) Police’s acting commissioner, said carnival organisers, float drivers and band leaders had all come together and the “support for the police from the committee has been outstanding”.
Notting Hill Carnival is expected to be bigger than ever to coincide with the London 2012 Olympics.
For the original report go to http://voice-online.co.uk/article/praise-%E2%80%98peaceful%E2%80%99-carnival
