Tottenham Carnival on after overcoming police objections

Haringey officers had raised objections to the popular event getting a licence this year, arguing the carnival did not have a good enough plan to deal with troublemakers and keep the public safe.

At a summit meeting on Monday, May 16, Sergeant Simon Wilmott said: “My concern is that without strong practices put in place, something may happen inside the event that will backfire on us all.”

His warnings come after last year's carnival became the target of known gang members, with up to 40 youths clambering over a fence into the event, and later rampaging through the pack gardens of nearby residents.

Councillors were shown video footage of a large gang of young people “intimidating” Carnival-goers, and another clip showed a group being searched by police outside the event who are believed to have thrown knives into the bushes before officers found them.

Due to new Met guidelines, this is the first year police will not patrol inside the carnival, in Bruce Castle Park off Lordship Lane, focusing their efforts in the surrounding streets and leaving internal security to the organisers.

Nicky Price, chairman of the carnival organising committee, told councillors on Monday there would be 57 trained security guards and stewards for the carnival, which attracts thousands of people each year.

He said following discussions with police he believed the problems had been ironed out with an updated security plan, and added the security teams have felt “inhibited” by police presence in recent years and will be better able to control the park this year without officers.

However, Sgt Wilmott stood firm with his belief that organisers had not satisfied issues police have with the security arrangements, and told councillors he was not able to support the licence bid.

However, councillors approved the licence, and Mr Price and his committee now face a race against time to put everything in place for the June 18 procession and Carnival.