A Met Police union boss has said the level of violence at Notting Hill carnival has become ‘unacceptable and unsustainable’, as one officer was sexually assaulted and six others were reportedly bitten.
The Metropolitan Police said it made 308 arrests across Sunday and Monday and more than 50 officer were assaulted by being kicked, punched, spat on, bitten, head-butted and even urinated on from upper floor windows.
‘You can’t have it that every single year come Tuesday morning we’re contemplating these types of injuries, this numbers of injuries and sexual assaults and stabbings. It really is awful,’ Vice Chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, Rick Prior told The Telegraph.
Shocking footage from the bank holiday weekend show revellers armed with huge machetes in the street in front of crowds of people in broad daylight.
Two men are in a critical condition after being stabbed. Police say eight people were stabbed on Monday in just a matter of hours.
Both Mr Prior and Conservative Party’s London mayoral candidate Susan Hall have called for the carnival to be moved elsewhere.
Mr Prior said he understood the significance of the carnival being held in Notting Hill but said a move should be considered.
Ken Marsh, Chairman of the federation which represents rank-and-file officers, said there are a small amount of individuals who attend the festival to harm and cause ‘disarray’.
‘How is it that the police, every August Bank Holiday weekend, rock up and have dozens assaulted? Tell me anywhere in the world where that happens?
‘Unfortunately we have a mayor [Sadiq Khan] who tells everyone it [the carnival] is amazing, is the footprint of London and everyone needs to accept it, full stop,’ he told The Times.
The Metropolitan Police Federation says it is aware of 75 incidents of officers being attacked, branding the incidents ‘absolutely disgusting’.
The Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file staff, described attacks on 75 officers as ‘absolutely disgusting’.
(Source: Daily Mail)
