Notting Hill carnival 2014 ends with violent clashes

Two police officers were injured and three men were stabbed in a series of violent clashes at the end of the Notting Hill carnival on August 25.

More than 260 people were arrested over the course of the two-day annual street party, mostly for drug-related offences and public disorder.

But 15 were arrested for having concealed of offensive weapons, including two machine guns and a handgun.

Other 157 people were arrested on the last day of the carnival yesterday, including eight held by police after a 29-year-old man was stabbed on the corner of Colville Gardens and Colville Terrace. The man, who has not been named, was taken to hospital and is in a stable condition.

The police officers were assaulted during an attempted arrest of a man suspected of drug dealing.

In addition, a man was arrested over the stabbing of an 18-year-old man in Southam Street, Kensington, and six men were held on suspicion of attempted murder following another stabbing.

There were also 38 arrests over suspected drug offences, 24 for public disorder and 15 for possession of offensive weapons.

However, the number of arrests was down on last year, when 301 people were detained, and 2012 when 278 people were held.

A 33-year-old male police officer and his 35-year-old female colleague were taken to hospital after being assaulted at the junction of Lancaster Road and St Luke’s Road at 15:15 BST.

The man’s condition is not life-threatening but it is understood he was unconscious at some stage following injuries to his head and torso. His colleague sustained torso injuries but was discharged from hospital.

The decision to use the Section 60 and Section 60AA orders was taken by the commander in charge of policing on Monday evening.

It was in use from 19:00 until 02:00 on Tuesday.

Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 allows senior police officers to authorize police officers to stop and search people in a specific area, either where a serious public order problem is likely to arise or has taken place, or for offensive weapons or dangerous instruments.

Section 60AA gives police powers to order the removal of disguises where section 60 has been invoked.

Police fielded 7,000 officers on the last day of the carnival.

The annual Notting Hill carnival is thought to be Europe’s largest street party and represents one of the biggest operational challenges in police’s calendar.

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