The Metropolitan Police say they have arrested 100 people and seized dozens of knives and guns in what they are calling “intelligence-led interventions” ahead of this weekend’s Notting Hill Carnival.
Officers say they have seized 11 firearms and more than 40 knives as part of an operation “against those who we have reason to believe pose the greatest risk to the safety” of those attending the event, in west London.
Police say 21 people have been recalled to prison, with a further 266 either on police bail or probation licence conditions that warn them against attending the event.
It comes after two people died days after being attacked in separate incidents during last year’s Carnival.
The sister of one of them, Cher Maximen, said earlier this year that more must be done to address “growing safety concerns” about the “iconic event”.
Speaking outside the Old Bailey shortly after a man was convicted of murder, her sister Tanya Jacobs said the loss of Ms Maximen, who was stabbed in front of her daughter, had caused “immeasurable sadness”.
Last year, four stabbings were reported, and more than 103 arrests made for robbery, violence, sexual offences, drug offences and possession of weapons, with 18 officers assaulted.
The year before it was 10, with seven reported in 2022, according to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request.
Matthew Phillip, the event’s chief executive, said organisers worked closely with police to try to keep people safe.
Asked if the event could be ticketed in the future, he replied: “Carnival will never be ticketed, it cannot be ticketed. Crime actually decreased last year on the previous year.”
More than one million to attend
Police say they expect more than a million people to be on the streets of west London this weekend “for what is one of the most significant weekends in the capital’s cultural calendar”.
Commander Charmain Brenyah, the Met’s spokesperson for the event, said: “The vast majority come to have fun and enjoy themselves, to celebrate Caribbean culture, to dance, to eat and to go home with nothing but good memories.
“Regrettably we know a minority come with less positive intentions and in recent years this has played out in the form of serious violence including three tragic incidents where lives have been taken.
The history of Notting Hill Carnival
“The actions of this minority are totally at odds with the values of those who care passionately about Carnival and we acknowledge those, including the event organisers, who have stood up to condemn violence and serious criminality in the run up to this weekend.”
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During the event, officers will be deployed in “significant numbers” to deal with incidents, with around 7,000 police to be on duty across the capital this Sunday and Monday.
A network of CCTV cameras, screening arches and live facial recognition cameras will also be deployed on the routes to and from Carnival.
Stop and search powers will also be used to prevent weapons being carried in.
Concerns had previously been raised about the facial recognition cameras, with Met Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley saying they would be used without bias.
Last year, organisers of the event commissioned an independent review into crowd safety after incidents in recent years where the density of people reached dangerous levels.
Commander Brenyah, said: “It was welcome news that some additional funding was secured to allow the organisers to implement a number of the review’s recommendations, but they have had limited time to do so meaning despite everyone’s best efforts it’s inevitable not all the risks will have been mitigated.”
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“We would also anyone attending Carnival to play their part by listening to stewards and officers if they’re asking you to go in a certain direction or to pause before carrying on down a particular road.
“Please also read and respect signage, adhere to barriers and other crowd safety equipment and if you feel unsafe or like an area is becoming too crowded, be sensible and move away.”
