As record numbers of officers are deployed on Sunday to police the Notting Hill Carnival, there is confusion over how a proposed "curfew" is to be enforced, with rank-and-file officers saying they have not received adequate instruction on how to clear the streets following the event's early closure.
In the wake of the London riots, carnival organisers are to proceed on the condition that the parade of floats will finish by 6.30pm, and the static sound systems will be turned off by 7pm – hours earlier than usual – to minimise the potential for disorder after dark.
However Metropolitan Police Federation vice-chairman John Tully said that hopes of clearing Notting Hill's streets so early were "pie in the sky" and could create potential flashpoints.
"We need direction – we being the rank-and-file officers that I represent – about when we are given an instruction from senior officers to clear the street what they actually mean by that?" he said. "We have no definition. If we go in heavy handed and a few people get cuts and bruises or injured, then my members are up in court on an assault charge. When we are told to clear the streets, we should get the backing of not just our managers but the politicians as well.
"I don't think it's achievable because of the volume of people who are going to be there and who don't want to go home. If they want to carry on, there is the potential for problems."
Tully also voiced wider concerns among colleagues that police officers were increasingly seen as a legitimate target by those who felt abandoned by the state: "Just look at Edmonton [north London] two nights ago when a police van was petrol bombed for no reason. That's an indication of how tense the streets of London are. In the current climate, there is obviously a worry that there could be a potential flashpoint."
He cited a meeting in Tottenham last week, where the first of the UK riots began following the shooting of Mark Duggan, in which there was a sense of fury among locals who had turned up.
"There was an atmosphere of absolute hatred towards the police and the establishment – the government – because they feel abandoned, the cuts in youth services, the cuts right across the board."
Commander Steve Rodhouse, the Met's spokesman for the carnival, said he remained confident that the early closing time of 7pm would prove effective and diminish the potential for trouble: "Carnival ends at 7pm and that is certainly our intention.
'We would hope that, combined with licensed premises closing at least between 7pm and 9pm, will be helpful in terms of encouraging people to leave the area and return it to normal for residents and businesses."
Organisers believe the latest festival will not only be safe but as memorable as the event the year after the 1976 riots at the carnival, which left 100 police injured and saw scores arrested.
Ancil Barclay, Notting Hill Carnival director, said: "People have said to me that the best carnival they can remember was the year after the Notting Hill riots and we are hoping that this will be the same. We need to demonstrate to the world that we can deliver. People are looking forward to making this a successful carnival."
Barclay said that crime at the carnival was decreasing: "Met commanders have said that you're likely to be safer in the carnival than in the West End on a Friday night." He added that local residents were acting as the "eyes and ears" of the community to help identify any potential troublemakers.
So far, more than 2,000 people have been arrested in connection with this month's riots, while another 40 have been detained following pre-emptive raids under Operation Razorback designed to prevent troublemakers attending the carnival.
However, last week Scotland Yard said up to 30,000 people were suspected to have been involved in the arson, looting and violence during the riots.
About 16,000 officers will be on hand in the capital during the duration of the carnival. Up to a million people are expected to attend on both days, the majority on Monday, with the weather forecast predicting sunny intervals.
'Preparing the show brings us all together'
Rosalind Thomas, 39The costume-maker from Paddington has helped with the carnival outfits. This year the colour scheme is red.
"I've been coming to the pre-carnival preparations since I was a baby. Sometimes there is so much to organise for a mas band that people sleep beside their costumes because of all the things that need to be completed. Preparing the show brings the whole community together; we have all generations from children to grandparents and teenagers – our junior king is 17 and junior queen is 16 – under one roof. It's an important time for us, celebrating all the Caribbean islands, all the community, everyone."
Nolan Simmons, 68
A carnival "king", for the last month he has travelled from south London to Notting Hill to help make his costume, a 20ft devil. He has been king of Elimu Paddington Arts Mas band for 30 years.
"We build the costumes from scratch, it takes time. This year I have my leg, so I'm a little worried. We'll have to see how I get on. I also have to dance with the costume on, but this year is a big carnival – the dry run for the 2012 Olympics. "A lot of things have changed since I've been doing this. We used to have police assigned to the band. They would have a great time – maybe, it was felt, too much of a good time. We also used to be able to go wherever we wanted, but now it is much more regulated."
Angela Badal, 40
The primary school teacher from Peckham works as a volunteer in the headquarters of the carnival organisers. She dedicates the bulk of the school holidays to helping organise the carnival.
"I love carnival. I have been coming since I was two or three. My parents are from Trinidad and I used to make costumes for the fancy dress shows at school and would win every year, then I would wear them at the carnival. Because of what has been going on, I really believe it is going to be very safe because of the number of stewards and police. It is a chance for everybody in London to show that we can come together, enjoy ourselves and be peaceful."
Mark Townsend @'The Guardian'
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