Traditional bright colours, exotic food and Afro-Caribbean style music has arrived as Notting Hill Carnival gets underway today.
Notting Hill Carnival is the biggest street party in Europe, but it does not just bring fun and enjoyment to carnival goers as it also creates a great financial boost to the economy and businesses around the UK.
The festival roughly contributes £93 million to the economy every year and attracts around one million attendants. Last year 90,000 tourists attended the carnival, which would have given a boost to many commercial properties including hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions. Many businesses in the art and clothing sectors who stock the supplies will also have benefited as numerous people will be frantically preparing their floats and costumes for the two day event.
Conversely, many shops and local businesses will see their takings drop during the bank holiday weekend as many local people will simply avoid the West of London due to the mass crowds. Besides the carnival has been running for 45 years, so surely local residents have got use to it by now.
However there was controversy as to whether or not the carnival would actaully go ahead due to the recent riots in London. Organisers have instead that the carnival will close early at 7pm on both days. More police officers will also be present during the weekend’s festivities. A statement from the Metropolitan Police said, “We totally encourage the earlier start and finish times of the event this year, given what has recently happened in London. The Notting Hill carnival is an important event in the capital’s calendar, and we support it going ahead this year. Troublemakers are not welcome.”
Last year crime rates during the carnival were down 31 per cent compared to in 2009. But what effect will the recent riots have on crime rates at the carnival this year? The police are taking no chances as they have increased police presence by 500 officers for both days and have 4000 officers on stand-by, if needed. Steve Rodhouse Metropolitan Police spokesman said, “5,500 officers will be on duty on the Sunday and 6,500 thousand on the Monday, a bank holiday in Britain, when the main parade takes place.”
Notting Hill Carnival dates back to 1964 when the local community wanted a way to celebrate their own cultures and traditions. During the first every carnival, steel bands paraded down the streets of Notting Hill enticing black residents onto the streets to join in with the celebrations. Communities enjoyed it so much that it became an annual event which has just grown and grown over the years attracting a much wider audience.
