Not for the first time (and almost certainly not for the last) I am 100% with retro.
Although policing ideally should be by consent, that does not mean that police officers should be everybody’s mates. The Notting Hill Carnival epitomises the ridiculous notion that police officers must be seen to take part in the events they are policing. Most of the public expects the police to be professional and robust. Fannying about with women dressed in feather clad bikinis is not professional. They are there to prevent law breaking and if the people do not like police officers patrolling their events robustly they should consider relocating them elsewhere, perhaps to the Caribbean (which would be much to the relief of many residents of West London).
As I recall, professional agitator Blair Peach died after being struck during a demonstration in the run up to the 1979 General election. Any death is tragic but I recall that particular fracas turned extremely violent and a number of police officers were injured. I hold a particularly strong view about demonstrations and other events held in the street. Basically my view is that streets are to enable people to get about. They are not places for mass demonstrations or carnivals, especially those that require a large police presence to ensure order is kept. Regrettably I take the view that people taking part in such events run the risk of getting injured as they often end in violence. As retro says, as educated as some protesters believe themselves to be, it seems they have difficulty learning.