The chief executive of Notting Hill Carnival has issued a stark warning to potential troublemakers ahead of this weekend's 60th anniversary celebrations, as the Metropolitan Police prepares to deploy 7,000 officers and enforce bans on more than 330 individuals. Matthew Phillip told those intending to cause disruption: “Don’t come. You’re not welcome,” while defending the event's safety record as “very good” compared to other large-scale gatherings in the capital.
Police operation and arrests
The Met Police has been granted temporary powers under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to conduct additional stop and searches. Officers have already seized 76 zombie knives, 30 flick knives and a machete. The force stated it began its policing operation “many weeks before” the carnival, focusing on identifying and disrupting individuals most likely to be involved in violence.
In a coordinated effort with Greater Manchester Police, seven people were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion 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.
Carnival's safety record and criticism
Speaking in Notting Hill, Mr Phillip addressed criticism of the event's safety record, saying: “You know, unfortunately, London has an issue with violence. It’s unfair that carnival is always targeted as a cause of it. Notting Hill Carnival is a victim of crime rather than a perpetrator of crime, and people should do more research into the facts.”
In 2025, the Met reported 528 arrests across the two main days of the carnival, including 167 for drug offences, 50 for possession of an offensive weapon, 21 for sexual offences, four for violence with injury and 49 for other violence. The previous year saw eight stabbings, including the murder of 32-year-old mother Cher Maximen, with the same number recorded in 2023 and seven including a murder in 2022.
Policing costs and resources
The cost of policing the event has risen from £11.7 million in 2023 to £15.7 million in 2025. Commander Charmain Brenyah, the Met's spokeswoman for the carnival, described it as a “considerable budgetary challenge”. City Hall has provided an additional £4.6 million grant this year to double the number of stewards and improve the use of specially installed CCTV cameras along the parade's route.
“While we recognise that the carnival organisers have had additional funding this year … that cost has not necessarily been transferred into police funding,” she said, expressing hope that the extra investment would allow the Met to divert resources to “core policing responsibilities” in the future.
Technology and offender management
The Met will employ “intelligence-led tactics” including stop and search and live facial recognition technology. Last year, the latter identified 98 people, including 30 registered sex offenders. The force has also worked with the probation service to attach conditions to the licences of sex offenders likely to attend, preventing them from doing so.
Commander Claire Smart, gold commander for Notting Hill Carnival, said: “Our message is simple: come and enjoy carnival, look after one another, respect the event, the communities hosting it and the police officers, stewards and other emergency services working to keep people safe. But if you’re coming to commit crime, to target others or to engage in violence – stay away or know that we will work relentlessly to identify you and take action.”
Mayor and officer welfare
Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan expressed pride in granting the extra £4.6 million, stating: “Notting Hill Carnival is one of the largest street festivals in the world and it’s fantastic that this community-led celebration of Caribbean history and culture is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Throughout the decades, Carnival has welcomed people from all backgrounds to enjoy fantastic food, fashion and music, and this year Londoners and visitors from across the globe will once again come together to enjoy a wonderful celebration of our capital’s diversity and unity.”
Paula Dodds, chairwoman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, which has previously claimed that 89% of officers said they felt unsafe while working at carnival, stressed that officer welfare must be “paramount”. She said: “One assault on a police officer is one too many and their welfare must remain a top priority for senior officers at the force… and politicians.” In 2025, 55 arrests were made for assaults on police officers, two of whom required hospital treatment – one suffered a broken nose and the other a serious bite to the hand.
