The annual Notting Hill Carnival has been marred by clashes involving around 40 youths as the event drew to a close.
Television footage showed a policeman's face bleeding from bricks and bottles hurled at officers.
Chief Inspector Jo Edwards said: "It was about two hours of attacks on police officers involving bottles being thrown, bricks and other debris that was on the floor. So you know, quite a scary environment for the police officers to be in."
She said "proactive policing" using stop and search tactics had help ensure most of the weekend's 850,000 visitors enjoyed the event peacefully.
Police said a total of 330 people were arrested over the weekend and that knives, a Taser gun, CS spray and a baseball bat were among the weapons seized.
Earlier in the day and in a separate incident, police detained another 151 people in south London in an attempt to prevent possible violence at the event.
Acting on a tip-off, over 1,620 officers gathered on Monday afternoon at the Oval cricket stadium, arresting a large group of youths allegedly travelling through the area to the West London carnival.
As well as those detained, another five were arrested for public order offences and possession of "points and blades".
Carnival organisers said the trouble which flared after the event was "extremely disappointing".
Article from ITV.com
It’s a real shame to see one of the capital’s most joyful and eagerly-awaited events ruined by idiots. The whole spirit of the carnival is supposed to be about music, dancing, great food and - dare I say it – LOVE. No matter where you’re from, what you do or what you’re about the carnival is supposed to be an event that brings visitors and residents of the nation’s capital together. What a pity then to see this shattered by a bunch of knife-totting, brick-throwing, red-stripe-fuelled cretins.
There are always arrest at the carnival but apparently disruption and the number of those taken into custody was significantly up on previous years.
Why is everyone so angry and intent on starting scraps at the moment? It can’t just be the credit crunch, to which everyone is so determined to annex all of the nation’s problems, can it?
Whatever the reason, well done to the Boys In Blue by putting themselves on the line to try and restore a bit of peace and order. Fingers crossed 2009’s event will be more orderly.
