Notting Hill is battening down the hatches ahead of the arrival of millions of people for the carnival this weekend.
Ahead of this year’s edition of the Afro-Caribbean event, organisers, police and Sir Sadiq Khan’s City Hall have unveiled a host of fresh measures to bolster security.
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Last year’s edition saw 528 arrests for a host of crimes, including sex offences, possession of offensive weapons and assaults on police officers.
This week, the Met Police confirmed that live facial recognition (LFR) and number plate recognition operations will be in place to find wanted individuals before and during the festival, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.
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The use of LFR in 2025 helped police identify almost 100 people of interest and make 61 arrests.
The force said it would be making proactive arrests of known gang members and issuing prevention orders to high-risk induvials like sex offenders and domestic abusers.
Officers will also be making regular weapon sweeps in areas with high gang activity and will be deploying so-called “knife arches” to help detect weapons.
Scotland Yard went on to confirm it would be deploying increased uniformed patrols of local parks, open spaces and town centres during the celebrations.
Event organisers have confirmed that a record-breaking 3,000 stewards will be on duty across the weekend – double the number typically seen at the event.
The ramped-up safety and crowd control measures have been paid for thanks to City Hall’s decision to hand organisers an additional £4.6million in funding.
Other steps being taken include the installation of specialist CCTV cameras, more large signs to direct attendees, and a scaled-up control room.
The carnival’s chief executive, Matthew Phillip, hailed the measures as a “massive step” for the event.
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“We have taken full control but we are fully supported by the Metropolitan Police Service as well,” he told the BBC.
With millions of revellers expected in the traditionally wealthy part of the capital, motorists are bracing for severe disruption.
The event will see more than 100 roads blocked off and restrictions enforced around Notting Hill Gate for the very first time.
Neighbours living in areas affected by the closures have been warned to move their vehicles ahead of the weekend – and have been told they will be refused access to their cars once the carnival kicks off.
Despite the bolstered security measures, the US Embassy in the UK has issued a stark warning to Americans living in Britain.
A security alert released on Tuesday said: “The carnival attracts over one million attendees across three days and requires a large police presence due to the prospect of increased crime.
“Over the past two years, the Metropolitan Police have reported arrests for bladed weapon violations, stabbings, and assaults on police officers and members of the public.
“Historically, violence and arrests occur most frequently during the afternoon and evening portions of the carnival.”
The embassy warned Americans to avoid afternoon and evening portions of the event, stay vigilant of surroundings, keep friends and family notified about their safety and avoid large crowds.
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