THE Notting Hill Carnival once again brought joy, colour and dance to west London with hundreds of thousands of people hitting the streets to celebrate.

The streets were alive with the annual blend of dazzling floats, rib-shaking sound systems, steel bands and the smell of jerk chicken.

But while the annual event has been facing criticism this week after reports of knife crime and disorder, it felt safe and relaxed to Umi Myers, who said it was important not to perpetuate “dangerous stereotypes”.

The 24-year-old said: “This year felt more peaceful to navigate. I’ve definitely gone to carnivals where it felt more tense, especially the first one after the pandemic. It felt so frenetic and frenzied to get out but this year I felt like people were just purely there to enjoy the spirit of the day, to dance and move around. I felt very safe and it felt relaxed, fun and full. But also not at all any dangerous stereotypes that sometimes can be painted. It was purely a day of joy, is the best way to put it.”

“I don’t think there’s anything more beautiful than dancing in the street with your neighbours and people that look like you, and come from the same background as you, and also people who don’t look anything like you or share your cultural heritage and are all wanting to be a part of this joyful day of celebration.

One of her first memories of carnival was being taken as a child being on her dad’s shoulders.

She added: “Carnival came from a place of protest and anti-establishment and now it’s so a part of British culture that we’ve been able to merge the pain from its roots and make it into a space that is joyous and celebratory, while also honouring its original roots. That’s why it feels important to me. I think it means the same to other people. It’s a time where we can all come together as an extended British community, a black British community and a multiracial community to be with each other and dance.”

Stabbings & assaults

THE Metropolitan Police Service said that over two days of the Notting Hill Carnival officers were assaulted 61 times.

Eight people were stabbed including a 32-year old mother who was with a child.

Three people have been arrested in connection with the stabbing and the womanremains in a critical condition in hospital.

MPS Commander Charmain Brenyah said: “I’d like to acknowledge the incredible work of the officers, including police medics, who arrived so quickly, delivering emergency medical treatment and securing the scene to preserve vital evidence.”