Officers asked to have their say on dangers of policing the Notting Hill Carnival

Sixty-one police officers were assaulted over the Bank Holiday Weekend event, which the MPF says is becoming “impossible to police safely”.

Metropolitan Police Service officers in the nation’s capital are being asked for their views on the annual event, whether they have been assaulted while policing it, the general risks they face, and what could be done to make it a safer event to work at.

The carnival at the end of August saw two murders, eight stabbings and 349 arrests – 72 for possession of an offensive weapon, one for possession of a firearm, 13 for sexual offences, and 53 for assaults on emergency workers.

The MPF, which represents more than 30,000 rank and file officers in London, launched its survey on Monday (September 9).

“The carnival has evolved to such an extent that it’s become impossible to police safely,’ says MPF chair Rick Prior.

“More than 200 of our colleagues have been assaulted at the carnival over the past three years… subject to sexual assaults and physical assaults, as well as being urinated on and spat on.

“This level of danger and attacks are all sadly predictable. This can’t keep happening each and every year without any consequences. We are tired of saying the same words every year. As a Federation representing officers in London, we sound like a broken record.

“It’s no wonder it’s not an event that many – if any – Metropolitan Police officers look forward to working at year in, year out. The status quo cannot continue.

“As a Federation, we have made the decision that we will now be surveying our members for their views on the carnival, their experiences, their reality. The danger they face.

“We will gather the evidence and then be sharing our findings with the force, the London Mayor and the Government. The views of frontline officers cannot be ignored. ”

Mr Prior added: “What came out of this carnival and previous carnivals is the constant level of assaults that both our members and the public are subjected to, and the significant risk of crushing.

“Serious consideration needs to be given to at least scope out alternate venues.

“It is up to the event organisers to consider the specifics, be it other venues or ticketing in certain aspects of the event.”

Commenting on the level of assaults on officers at this year’s event, Mr Prior said: “We police very difficult and dynamic environments in London each and every day – including the Notting Hill Carnival – without fear or favour.

“It’s our view that anyone assaulting police officers over the carnival weekend – including colleagues who are punched, headbutted and spat at – should be dealt with swiftly and severely by the justice system… as we have recently seen in other parts of the country when thugs have been attacking our brave police officers during the riots.

“The perpetrators have rightly paid a heavy price. We need that deterrent here as well.”

He said the results of the survey into the Notting Hill Carnival will be made available to the public.