MPA Chair commends the Met for successfully policing Europe's largest street Carnival

85/02
27 August 2002

Over 1.3 million people attended the two day Notting Hill Carnival 2002, the biggest attendance figure on record. Ten thousand police officers were deployed successfully over the weekend to ensure public safety and deter the criminal activity of a minority, using many years of experience in policing what is Europe’s largest street carnival.

Speaking after the 2002 carnival, Toby Harris, Chair of the MPA said:

“For most people Carnival passed off without incident and overall it appears at
this stage that there has not been a rise in the level of crime. I would like to congratulate the Met for their superb police operation and thank all the police officers and civil staff on duty for their hard work over the weekend.

“I would also like to thank all the agencies involved in the organisation of
Carnival who have been working throughout the year to make sure that Carnival 2002 was as safe as possible.

“The change of route was intended to help prevent the overcrowding usually experienced and hopefully this has helped to make Carnival safer for everyone.

“However, if Carnival is to continue to welcome over a million people each
year resourcing issues must be addressed by all partners so that the substantial costs for policing are not borne by the Met alone.”

Notes to editors

1. The total cost to the Metropolitan Police Service of the Notting Hill Carnival 2001 was £5,624,986. This year’s carnival is expected to cost the Met in excess of this figure.

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