More than 100 people have been arrested and dozens of weapons seized in a massive police operation ahead of the Notting Hill Carnival, as Scotland Yard battles to prevent a repeat of last year’s deadly violence.
Metropolitan Police officers confiscated 11 firearms and more than 40 knives in pre-emptive raids targeting suspected troublemakers before this weekend’s celebration of Caribbean culture in west London.
Twenty-one individuals have been recalled to prison as part of the intelligence-led operation, with 266 people now banned from attending the carnival through police bail or probation licence conditions.
The unprecedented crackdown comes after two people were murdered at last year’s event, including mother Cher Maximen, 32, who was stabbed to death in front of her three-year-old daughter during the festival’s “family day.”
Chef Mussie Imnetu, 41, who had worked under Gordon Ramsay and was visiting from Dubai, died after being beaten outside a restaurant in Queensway on the second day of the carnival.
Commander Charmain Brenyah, Scotland Yard’s spokesperson for Carnival, said: “We expect around one million people to be on the streets of west London for what is one of the most significant weekends in the capital’s cultural calendar.”
“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,” she added.
However, Commander Brenyah acknowledged that a violent minority has increasingly targeted the event, saying: “Regrettably we know a minority come with less positive intentions and in recent years this has played out in the form of serious violence.”
Last year’s carnival saw eight stabbings in total, with 349 arrests made over the two-day event, prompting calls for enhanced security measures and raising questions about the festival’s future.
The Met will deploy controversial live facial recognition cameras on all routes into and out of the carnival area, marking a significant escalation in surveillance technology use at the event.
We will be using LFR cameras on the approach to and from Carnival, outside the boundaries of the event itself, to help officers identify and intercept those who pose a public safety risk,” the force confirmed.
Screening arches will be installed at the busiest entry points, with stop-and-search powers being used to prevent weapons entering the festival area, which typically attracts Europe’s largest street party crowds.
Scotland Yard has shared intelligence with police forces nationwide to identify violent gang members planning to attend, with banning orders being sought for those with histories of violence or sexual offences.
Shakeil Thibou, 20, was jailed for life in May after being convicted of murdering Ms Maximen, with CCTV footage showing him attempting to stab another man before the mother was caught in the melee.
“The actions of this minority are totally at odds with the values of those who care passionately about Carnival,” Commander Brenyah said, acknowledging support from organisers who have condemned violence.
British Transport Police superintendent Dominique Ioannou announced enhanced security on public transport, stating: “There’ll be an enhanced presence of uniformed and plain clothes officers out and about across London’s tube and railway network.”
“We want Carnival-goers to have a great weekend, celebrate responsibly and respect others while using the rail network,” she added, urging attendees to plan journeys in advance.
The City of London Police will also provide support during the bank holiday weekend, creating a ring of security around the carnival area in an unprecedented show of force.
Freedom of Information data reveals a disturbing pattern of knife violence at recent carnivals, with 12 stabbings in 2017, seven in 2018, 18 in 2019, and seven in 2022, including one fatality.
In 2023, there were 10 non-fatal stabbings, before last year’s tragic deaths brought renewed scrutiny to security arrangements at what should be a celebration of culture and community.
Commander Brenyah said: “During the event, we will have officers deployed in significant numbers to deal with incidents and where possible, to intervene before they happen.”
“They will be aided by technology including a network of CCTV cameras,” she confirmed, adding that additional search powers were being considered to remove dangerous weapons from the streets.
A London Assembly report earlier this year warned of potential overcrowding risks, with the Metropolitan Police consistently raising concerns about a possible “mass casualty event” at the carnival.
The report called on Mayor Sadiq Khan to urgently review crowd safety measures, including dangerous pinch points and stewarding arrangements, comparing the risk to the Hillsborough disaster.
Ms Maximen’s grandmother, Vyleen, said after her killer’s conviction: “I held you in my arms when you were born. 32 years of loving, of laughing, playing, crying and holidaying with you.”
“I will no longer have that pleasure ever again. Not seeing you get married or have more children. Life will never be the same,” she added in a heartbreaking victim impact statement.
The carnival organisers said in a statement: “We stand together against all violence and condemn these acts, which are against all carnival values and the millions of people who come in celebration of them.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described last year’s deaths as “deeply distressing and shocking,” adding: “This terrible and appalling violence has no place on our streets.
Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the “completely unacceptable” violence, saying: “It is heartbreaking that Cher Maximen and Mussie Imnetu have died after being attacked in separate incidents.”
Police are urging anyone with concerns about potential violence to contact them immediately, with a dedicated operation room monitoring intelligence throughout the weekend’s festivities.
The carnival, which celebrates Afro-Caribbean culture and heritage, remains Europe’s largest street festival despite ongoing safety concerns and calls from some quarters for enhanced restrictions or relocation.
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