Conservative London Assembly member Susan Hall backed Emily Carver over Tom Harwood in a GB News debate today on the Metropolitan Police’s Notting Hill Carnival dancing ban.
The disagreement centred on new guidance issued to nearly seven thousand officers who will patrol this weekend’s carnival, explicitly instructing them to refrain from dancing with revellers.
Susan Hall told the presenters that she agrees with Emily
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Speaking on GB News, Ms Hall said: “I was watching you earlier. And Emily, I’m afraid I agree with you and not with you, Tom.
“I think you’re quite right, Emily they should not be dancing. I think it damages their authority. I mean, I was livid when they all started taking money as well.
“I thought that was completely wrong. They should work without fear or favour to anybody.
“And I think getting involved with twerking and grinding and all these other frightful things that happen at the Carnival is not what they’re there for.”
Tom responded: “Surely, Susan, there’s a happy medium between doing the Miley Cyrus twerking and being a Beefeater who has to be completely stony-faced some sort of immovable, joyless presence.
“I mean, surely the traditional form of policing the Bobby on the beat, the friendly neighbourhood police officer having a little dance could actually be something that goes a long way to help community relations.”
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Ms Hall said: “Well, clearly it doesn’t, does it? Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been 37 assaults on emergency workers last year. There are more and more arrests every single year. So clearly that doesn’t happen.”
Later Tom said: “I just don’t like the idea of a ban, the idea that under no circumstance could a police officer join in for a little jiggle.
“I mean, I don’t know is there something a bit too heavy-handed about this Metropolitan Police advice?
“Surely there should be individual assessment. The police officer on the beat knows what’s appropriate and when.”
Police have often been seen dancing at the London event
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Scotland Yard has confirmed that around 7,000 officers will be deployed across West London for the two-day Notting Hill Carnival, with strict orders not to join in the festivities.
“They are there to keep revellers safe, not to join in the revelling,” a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said, adding that officers should interact positively with the public but remain alert and ready to intervene immediately.
The force warned that dancing could hamper officers’ ability to react quickly, particularly given the carnival’s dense crowds.
This marks a clear change from previous years, when viral footage showed police taking part in celebrations including PC Daniel Graham’s widely shared body-popping performance in 2017.
With last year’s event seeing alarming crime figures, the Met says stricter measures are now necessary to ensure public safety.