Well something has to be done. Quite apart from the horrendous noise and litter (this year it generated 300 tonnes of waste, only 30% of which can be recycled), can we really justify the use of 7,000 already overstretched police, 35 of whom were injured on the last day alone? The police also recorded 49 arrests for possession of an offensive weapon, 37 assaults on an emergency workers, 8 sexual offences, 9 cases of violence with injury and 15 other violent offences, 1 for possession of a firearm, 2 vehicle crimes and 1 for harassment, 70 drugs offences, 5 theft offences, 11 public order offences and 22 other offences.They were just the ones caught. The cost of policing alone last year was just under £12M. Kensington and Chelsea spent £24,000 in providing a "respite" outing for elderly residents so that they did not need to be exposed to the noise and nuisance. They also have to pay to provide 24-hour security on housing estates and for individual discussions about the event with anyone who has been allocated a social worker.Oh yes, and 4 stabbings, one of which was fatal plus another Carnival-related murder.
Charlotte Kasner ● 83d