Millions loved the Notting Hill Carnival, but we need less crime. As an ex-cop, I have ideas on how to make it better | Leroy Logan

EEvery year, as the Notting Hill Carnival (NHC) draws to a close, critics call for the event to be banned. This year is no different. The carnival is viewed through the prism of crime unlike any other major festival or major sporting event. Is it because a very large gathering of black people is automatically seen as a potential crime hotspot? This view is unfortunately held not only by sections of the public and the media, but also by police officers of all ranks involved in policing.

In my 30 years with the Metropolitan Police, I have undertaken a number of roles related to policing at the NHC. I have observed that officers often see it as an annual event imposed on the capital. It is not viewed with national pride, much like policing at England’s matches at Wembley – although violent incidents and attacks on police officers often occur at such matches. Furthermore, I have never seen a minister or member of the Royal Family attend the NHC in an official capacity, as they would at a national football match.

This association with crime, the lack of national pride and the feeling that Carnival is an imposition influence public perception. At the same time, police plans for the event seem to include very strict enforcement measures, often at the expense of citizen engagement.

I remember going to carnivals as a teenager in the early 1970s and seeing police officers interacting with the population. However, after a riot in 1976, the face of policing changed significantly, leading to a distancing between the police and the population. After that, policing was characterized by heavy fences, a larger number of police officers and stricter curfews (in some years they were in effect as early as 7 p.m.).

Since the number of crimes committed has remained stubbornly high for decades – last year alone there were eight stabbings, 349 arrests and 61 cases in which police officers were physically attacked – the police are calling for tougher action.

I understand why. However, I would argue that this can lead to an ‘us versus them’ scenario, where carnival-goers feel the police are intrusive and stifling the carnival atmosphere. Not only does this reduce trust in the police, but it can also deter people from disclosing vital information about a particular incident or background information about criminal activity. Unfortunately, this misperception about the way black and ethnic minorities are policed ​​can be seen throughout the capital all year round. Carnival is a microcosm of police failings.

Another part of the problem is the small area in which the carnival takes place. Compared to European festivals of a similar size, the festival takes place in a particularly dense part of the city and so gangs are drawn to the NHC where they commit crimes and/or settle disputes before disappearing into the crowd. Consider moving the venue to Hyde Park or a more open location to allow for more effective policing.

There is a fascinating backstory behind NHC and how it arose from the suffering of the Caribbean community. Racial discrimination reached a peak in 1959 with the murder of Kelso Cochrane – a member of the Windrush generation from Antigua – following ongoing tensions between black people and sections of the white community, some of whom were known as the Teddy Boys. These tensions were exacerbated by the racist policing that many members of the community experienced on a daily basis. The response to this came in the form of art and street processions initiated by legendary Caribbean figures such as human rights activist Claudia Jones. Over the decades, the appeal has expanded beyond the Caribbean community to now include African, Asian and other ethnic minorities in addition to its initial allies of white Londoners.

This joyful celebration of the diaspora experience is why millions of people attend Carnival every year despite the feeling of being overwhelmed by too much policing or becoming a victim of crime. But I still believe that with better policing, it could be a lot more peaceful.

That is my advice. We need proactive policing by all district commands across London and it should not be left to central commands to work exclusively with those involved in the carnival. Preparations for the carnival should start well in advance, not just in terms of operational logistics but also how prevention and early intervention tactics can be used to ensure that people who are vulnerable to being drawn into gangs are deterred. These people can be encouraged to attend the carnival in a positive way, with the help of the charities in their area. The strategy cannot just be more staff on the ground, greater enforcement powers and improved use of technology. There needs to be a longer-term partnership approach across the Met in preparation for the NHC.

Even as a retired police officer, I go to the carnival with my family because I can still identify with the story of Windrush; how pain was turned into strength and it has now become the biggest carnival in Europe. It is a British success story. I hope that a few more of the sceptics get to experience it before they jump on the criticism bandwagon!

• Leroy Logan is a former Superintendent of the Metropolitan Police and former Chairman of the Black Police Association. He is the author of Closing Ranks: My Life As a Cop

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