As more than 7,000 officers deploy for the Notting Hill Carnival, organisers have defended the festival against criticism over violence. Chief executive Matthew Phillip argued the event is a victim of crime rather than a perpetrator, while police seized dozens of weapons ahead of the celebrations.
Ahead of the August bank holiday festivities, the Metropolitan Police announced that more than 7,000 officers would be deployed, alongside a stringent operation that has already banned more than 330 people from attending as part of bail conditions.
Organisers Defend Carnival Against Crime Criticism
Criticism has frequently dogged the event following isolated incidents of disorder in previous years. At last year’s event, the Met Police made more than 500 arrests, mainly for drug offences, as well as for possession of an offensive weapon, sexual assault and violence.
However, festival leadership pushed back sharply against the narrative that the celebration itself generates criminality. The event’s chief executive, Matthew Phillip, said it was unfair that Carnival is always targeted as a cause
of violence.
“It is a victim of crime rather than a perpetrator.”
Matthew Phillip, chief executive of Notting Hill Carnival
To bolster safety this year, more than 3,000 stewards will also be on duty during this year’s event, double the usual number.
Pre-Event Weapon Seizes and Gang Arrests
Ahead of this year’s Carnival, the Met said officers would “relentlessly” pursue the small minority who come intending to do harm
.
Police sweeps prior to the event recovered significant contraband. Ahead of the event, 76 zombie knives, 30 flick knives and a machete have been seized, the Met said. On Wednesday, working with Greater Manchester Police, the Met arrested seven people who were suspected of being part of a gang that targets music festivals and events. Intelligence suggested the gang had previously targeted the carnival, and may have planned to do so again, the force added.
Warm-Ups and Afterparties Set Across London
DJs will be limbering up at various clubs and bars in the nights running up to the main event, bringing roots, reggae, house, drum ’n’ bass, drill to get you in the mood. And while all of the sound systems at Carnival switch off at 7pm every day, the dancing certainly doesn’t stop, with a swathe of afterparties happening across west London and elsewhere in the city keeping the tunes going, the liquor flowing and the momentum nice and high.
Revellers looking for early sessions can catch the Channel One Sound System at Village Underground, located at 54 Holywell Lane, EC2A 3PQ on Aug 28 from £24.81 for a late night masterclass in reggae. Alternatively, Afroheat London brings a one-night-only celebration to Brixton Jamm on Aug 28 from £11.30, featuring headliner Afro B alongside LaRizzle, P Montana and DJ Larni. For those with the stamina for post-parade dancing after sound systems switch off, venues like UNDR House of Flavaz at 3 Thorpe Close (Aug 30, from £25), Phonox at 418 Brixton Rd (Aug 30, from £15), and Prince of Peckham at 1 Clayton Rd (Aug 30, from £11.30) will host late-night events running well into the night.
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