Back in the mid to late 80’s I loved getting on my motor bike and heading down to Kent and the Hells Angels MC Kent Custom Bike show.

It was a gathering of like minded bikers, outlaws bikers MCC bikes and MC Gangs from all over the UK and Europe in a field getting drunk, listening to music and looking at custom motor bikes.

I’m not sure of the exact number of people attending but there must have been over 100,000. The overwhelming memory is of how good the atmosphere was. There were no fights, there were no stabbings and generally there was no trouble even given the vast amount of beer drunk over the weekend. I also seem to remember there being almost no arrests being made by the Police. Maybe that’s because there were only a hand full of Police officers needed to cover the massive gathering and they generally stood at the site entrance directing people in off the road.

In contrast, on the first day of the Notting Hill “carnival” down in London one lady is in hospital in a critical condition after being stabbed, 2 other men have been stabbed but not seriously hurt. 90 people have been arrested, 15 Police officers have been hurt and, wait for it! 7000 Police officers are needed to police the event having to walk around in full riot gear in packs of 20 or 30 officers looking for trouble before it starts.

What is wrong with this picture? Why has the violence and disorder been allowed to escalate to such high levels that there needs to be 7000 Police officers in place. This is not a “carnival”, this is public disorder, even anarchy!

Why has this event not been stopped?