to allow my DD to go to the Notting Hill Carnival?

[haventkilledtheorchidyet]

DD (14) wants to go to the NHC. She is quite streetwise and will be going with a couple of friends. AIBU to let her?

It's not a good place for a teenage girl, lots of unwanted grabbing by guys. I've seen girls pulled into "daggering" who didn't look as if they were enjoying it It's easy to get lost in the crowd and caught up in problems. The atmosphere can change very quickly from fun and happy to tense and scary.

I went once years ago with a group of friends and we enjoyed ourselves up until the point we lost a friend in the crowd for a while, she then found us but was distraught as she'd been forced into a corner and groped by a group of men. We left soon after that and none of us have ever bothered going to it again.

I've lived in London for 14 years, I went once years ago and it was more than enough. I'd never let a 14 year old go, it's not fun, it's scary, you can't get to see anything as its too crowded and the whole thing feels like the gloves are off and anything could happen. People who live in the area endure it and the streets are destroyed on the Tuesday - I used to work near there. Pretty much every West Londoner I know sighs when the subject of carnival is raised.

20 years ago, I got abducted at the NHC. It was my own fault as I was absolutely shitfaced and had no idea what was going on. A car load of guys picked me up and next thing I knew, I was in Streatham and in a fight with them and then had no idea how to get home. Even then, people got stabbed at the NHC. It's like a tradition.

My DH is West Indian and goes most years. But he doesn't think it's safe for me to go with him, even pre-DC, and no way would he let DD go, either with him and definitely not alone.

thanks for all the responses - the answer will be no!

I have a 14 year old dd, absolutely no way would she be going.

We live in South East London, i've never been to NHC and neither would i want to.

No way!

I went once and I used to go to dancehall dances where people have been shot in front of me, stabbed, drug dealing, guns, betting huge amounts of money on the pool table every weekend. I thought I'd be fine. It was scary.

A lady threw acid. Just randomly as if she was angry at the world. It wasn't targeted at anyone in particular.
A DJ started throwing glass bottles at the people dancing in front of his booth
A lady had her baby snatched out of her pushchair
A whole Street of people started running towards us. It looked like a wave. We stood behind bollards and held on to each other until they passed.
We saw someone getting stabbed.

That was the Monday.

It's definitely a rite of passage if you live in London but at 17/18.

Tbh I wouldn't allow my 15 year old ds to go let alone a girl .

Right decision OP.

Wow, this sounds such an attractive event ... Zombie apocalypse with sexual assault ? Delightful.

Have several family members there today and they are dreading it. They are all adults with protective equipment not 14 year olds. NHC on the Monday is a challenging place.

Live reporting from NHC! We are having breakfast at the moment. All quiet so far, things will be gearing up from now on.

I've been going with friends since I was 15. I've always loved it; the food, the atmosphere, the parade and the sound systems. This year is the first year I haven't been (apart from when I've been on away). I've never been groped, robbed or threatened, and have always had a great time. I've lost my friends and still had a good time. But I only ever go on Sunday, never Monday; litter everywhere and more trouble in the air; plus it's so packed it's hard to get around.

These days there is definitely an edge to it, and I suppose it just takes being in the wrong place at the wrong time to be caught up in violence. The vast majority of people are there to have fun and celebrate but a minority of people who go to cause trouble are having a big impact on the event.

I can hear music already from my sitting room. My kids love it though but we only stay in the front garden. I will tell my dh to venture out for jerk chicken by afternoon as all the shops are shut or only selling alcohol and we ate the food rations yesterday.
We made £260 yesterday selling the use of our toilet. We have to be strict though as drunk people take the piss. No queuing inside the flat and one at a time. We also have to give them toilet roll and not leave it in the bathroom otherwise they take it.
I found a fucking tampon applicator behind the toilet yesterday when I was cleaning up even though I put a big bin in there. Oh well not that bad.
If we didn't try and make money out of this event it would be utterly depressing.
Carnival actually starts Saturday night with 'Panorama' right outside my flat that ends at 2 in the morning. About a week before they start practicing steels drums all day long. It's not people from this area either.
But another good note is today is 8 years since I met my dh at carnival.

Absolutely no way, I wouldn't even go myself

I took ds yesterday, he had a great time as did I, but we got there early and left around 3, it was getting busy when we left, however I wouldn't take him to the Monday, that's for when he's 17/18 and not with his mummy!

We live close to NH and have currently battened down the hatches, locked all the doors, laid in supplies and will not leave the house until tomorrow. The noise hasn't started yet but we are having all important conversations soon because we won't be able to hear each other later.
I wouldn't even allow MYSELF to go to Carnival.

I'm trying to imagine willingly allowing a hundred+ strange people into my home to use the loo and my imagination fails me. Ditto the state of the loo at the end of the day [grim] I wouldn't do it for £2k, let alone £260.

The carnival should have been moved years ago, it's completely unfair on residents.

On a more positive note - for those living in London switch on to London Live TV to watch Carnival.

It's not all crime and debauchery!

No way op. I have fond memories of carnival at 15 years old back when it was a four day event. I used to go with my very pretty friend and we were handed joints and alcohol from random men, grinded on and groped hourly and stalked by a group of girls that wanted to beat us up for dancing too close to them!

All good fun at the time but I shudder at the thought of dd doing it when she gets older.

The news reports are scary!

Nope. No way no how. I have been twice. First time my friend and I were sexually assaulted and then followed by 2 men. Before dusk we asked police for the best way out of there. They helpfully sent us right into the path of the parade. We got caught in a crush, friend was literally lifted off her feet and carried along. A kind soul standing on a windowsill saw her and hoiked her up and then offered us a spliff. It is no place for a 14 year old, streetwise or not.

I went yesterday and loved every minute of it. I was there from 12pm until 9pm. I was on my own for the first two hours when my friends arrived. I didn't see any sort of trouble all day. There were hundreds of police and when I got lost I asked the police and they were more than helpful directing me.

i did use someone's toilet and paid £3. The girls before me used the bath to pee in. Disgusting. I did see a girl wee in the road in front of the police at about 4pm. I've love to know how much money those who rent their toilet out make. It must be a fortune because the lines are long.

Shocked, but not surprised to hear there was so many stabbings again this year. I honestly was everywhere during the carnival and didn't see a single person being arrested or any trouble. Our police did a fabulous job. The only reason I'm not there today is because my body is killing me due to all the exercise I got walking yesterday.

I used to live near to the route but not on it. I used to take the DC on Sunday from a very young age (4 or 5). I would only go during the day and we were close enough to walk so I would only take a few quid with me and leave my phone at home. I have fond memories of sitting in Meanwhile Gardens eating salt fish fritters.
Would I let a 14 year old go on their own on the Monday - absolutely not. As it gets later the crowds are awful and the people milling around on Harrow Road waiting for buses is often a flash point. DS1 is 13 and even if we still lived within walking distance, I wouldn't let him go on his own next year. You've made the right decision.

how long has the carnival been going?

is there a meaning to it?

im finding this thread facsinating with people's accounts of it