24 August 2001
The force's £4m plans dwarf the £1m spent on policing this year's May Day demonstrations. Ten thousand officers will be on duty at the west London event, a 1,500 increase on last year. They will be equipped with hand-held metal detectors. Eighty extra CCTV cameras will also scrutinise the area.
The strengthened police presence is in response to the violence which accompanied last year's carnival. One man was fatally stabbed and another kicked to death. Carnival 2000 was marred by 19 stabbings in all and 129 arrests.
Deputy assistant commissioner Andy Trotter said of the operation planned for August 26 and 27: 'Maintaining public safety is the most important part. This event is enormously successful and the public should feel safe. We are not saying to people stay away but to come and enjoy themselves. This is an enormous challenge for the police and we will do the best we possibly can.'
Two million people are expected to visit the event. The police, the Greater London Authority and the Notting Hill Carnival Trust will hold a review afterwards and discuss an alternative route for the procession if the increased police presence fails to deter criminal activity.
The run-up to the carnival has been dogged by disagreements, culminating in a row between the Carnival Trust and the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea over stewarding.
The council claimed the trust was slow to recruit the 600 stewards required for the carnival's smooth running. The trust in turn blamed the council for a stream of negative stories which it says has jeopardised sponsorship.
PFaug2001
