A total
of 252 people have been arrested during the two-day Notting Hill
Carnival in western London, local police said on Tuesday.
Among those arrested, 76 were related to drugs
possession and possession with intent to supply, 43 violated public
order, and other 23 were for possession of offensive weapon.
Figure showed that 14 people were arrested as
they assaulted police. Two policemen have been sent to hospital for
treatment after assaults, but neither of them suffered serious injuries.
The total number of arrested people fell this
year, comparing to 301 detained last year. In 2012, 278 people were held
during the carnival.
“Although early indications are that reported
crime is down at this year’s Notting Hill Carnival, I am concerned by
the number of stabbings over the weekend. Stabbings are up on last year,
and in some cases these are just centimetres from being a murder. Each
will be thoroughly investigated and we will do everything possible to
ensure those who brought trouble to Carnival are placed before the
courts,” said Bernard Hogan-Howe, commissioner of Metropolitan Police.
To maintain the order of the festival, about
7,000 police officers were dispatched to the scene on Monday, the main
celebration day of the carnival, while more than 1,000 officers were
also sent out on Sunday, the family day for the carnival.
Notting Hill Carnival is one of the largest
street festival in Europe. Originated in early 1960s, it was a festival
for celebrating cultures and traditions by Afro-Caribbean communities.
Taking place every August, the carnival
features jubilant parade, flamboyant costumes, music and dance along the
carnival route, which attracted millions of visitors across the world.
This year’s celebration fell on Sunday and Monday.