More than 7,000 officers to be deployed for Notting Hill Carnival as Met Police sets out plans

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Officers carried out intelligence-driven operations to disrupt potential offenders before they could reach the streets of West London

The Metropolitan Police will station more than 7,000 officers across west London this Bank Holiday weekend as Notting Hill Carnival marks its 60th year.

The event, which draws millions of visitors and celebrates Caribbean culture and community, sees hundreds of arrests every year.

Commander Claire Smart, serving as Gold Commander for this year's operation, said: "The vast majority of people who attend Carnival come to celebrate, enjoy themselves and be part of something unique. Our job is to help make sure they can do that safely."

She identified the prevention of serious violence and the protection of women and girls as central priorities.

The commander noted that organisers had made significant improvements to stewarding and crowd management following months of joint planning.

In the weeks leading up to the festival, officers carried out intelligence-driven operations to disrupt potential offenders before they could reach the streets of west London.

On Wednesday, a joint operation with Greater Manchester Police saw raids conducted at multiple addresses across the capital, resulting in seven arrests on suspicion of robbery.

The suspects are alleged to belong to a gang that specifically targets music events and festivals, with intelligence suggesting they had previously attended Carnival and may have planned to return.

Police also seized significant quantities of weapons, including 66 zombie knives recovered in north-east London and a further haul of 10 zombie knives, 30 flick knives and a machete in the east of the city.

Where criminal charges were not possible, bail conditions prohibiting attendance at Carnival were imposed on those deemed to pose the greatest threat, a measure now affecting more than 330 individuals.

Throughout the weekend, a Section 60 order under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 will grant officers enhanced powers to search individuals for weapons without reasonable suspicion.

The force is also expanding its deployment of live facial recognition cameras, with additional units positioned both at the event itself and along approach routes.

Commander Smart said the force would "use intelligence-led tactics including stop and search, as well as the increased deployment of live facial recognition cameras, to identify offenders, prevent harm and intervene early wherever possible."

Officers also proactively visited more than 90 businesses in the Westminster area alone, including hotels, restaurants, fast food outlets and phone shops, to brief staff on recognising signs of child sexual exploitation and trafficking.

At last year's Carnival, police made 528 arrests over the two main days, with facial recognition technology alone responsible for identifying 98 individuals and leading to 61 of those detentions.

The cameras also enabled officers to intercept and speak with 30 registered sex offenders.

Four stabbing or slashing incidents were reported, though none involved life-threatening injuries.

55 people were arrested for assaulting officers, with two requiring hospital treatment.

This year, the Met will be supported by British Transport Police, which is deploying specialist resources and high-visibility patrols across the rail network.

City of London Police officers will also be working alongside Met colleagues throughout the weekend.