Notting Hill carnival got off to a peaceful start today as Scotland Yard faced its biggest public order test since the riots.
More than 5,000 police officers took to the streets as revellers descended on the capital for Europe’s biggest street festival. It is expected more than a million people will attend the two-day colourful annual celebration of Caribbean culture featuring steel drum bands, calypso music and dancers in flamboyant costumes.
The festival carries more than usual significance this year because it is the biggest event in London since riots flared in the capital on August 6th, spreading to other major English cities.
Police say 5,500 officers will be on duty today and 6,500 on duty tomorrow, when the main parade takes place. Another 4,000 police will be on standby.
Between 6am and 2pm there were four arrests, the Metropolitan Police said. Three were for drug offences and one for a public order offence. A spokesman for the force said so far everything was "very peaceful".
After downpours yesterday the weather has been kind to revellers and remained mild. Carnival-goers will enjoy clearer skies tomorrow.
"The police have been targeting potential troublemakers and anyone thinking of causing trouble should stay away," London Mayor Boris Johnson said in a statement.
The capital's police have made 2,000 arrests in the aftermath of the disorder that saw hooded rioters looting businesses, setting buildings alight and fighting pitched battles with officers.
The riots, which began when a protest over the police shooting of a suspect turned violent, were a severe knock to London's reputation, raising questions over the police's ability to keep order at next year's London Olympics.
Officials hope the carnival will show a brighter side of London after the riots.
"This is a carnival for the people - let's show the world we know how to throw a party and have a good time," Mr Johnson said.
This year's Notting Hill Carnival, a popular tourist attraction, only went ahead after organisers held talks with police and local residents and will finish a couple of hours earlier than usual tomorrow.
Metropolitan Police Commander Steve Rodhouse said last week that a crackdown on known troublemakers before the event, called Operation Razorback, had made 35 arrests.
He said police had intelligence that "some gangs want to come to the carnival and create trouble for us", but that the "chatter" was no different from previous years.
However, some local business owners and residents took no chances, boarding up their properties. In the past, the carnival has been marred by shootings, stabbings, drug-dealing and high numbers of arrests, although it has been largely peaceful in recent years.
The carnival has also attracted trouble from rival teenage street gangs, which the government and police have partly blamed for the recent riots.
Agencies