Police at Notting Hill carnival banned from dancing with revellers

For George Michael, it was guilty feet that left him unable to dance. For Eddy Grant, a world full of problems left him rooted to the spot as the music played.

- Vikram Dodd

But for police officers amid the sound systems at this weekend's Notting Hill carnival, it is orders from on high that dictate that no matter how the beat moves them, they are banned from dancing with revellers.

Down the decades the scenes of officers strutting their stuff was seen as a cheesy but welcome attempt at repairing community relations.

But in a statement yesterday, the Metropolitan police made clear it feels a rhythmic shake of the hips may distract or slow down the 7,000 officers deployed to carnival from responding to outbreaks of crime.

Carnival is the biggest annual challenge for the Met. For the majority of the more than 1 million people attending it is the biggest celebration of Caribbean culture in Europe.