Notting Hill Carnival criticism unfair, says boss

The boss of Notting Hill Carnival has said it was "unfair" to blame the event for violence.

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.

Ahead of this year's Carnival, the Met said officers would "relentlessly" pursue the "small minority who come intending to do harm", and had banned more than 330 people from attending as part of bail conditions. More than 7,000 officers will be deployed.

The event's chief executive, Matthew Phillip, said it was "unfair that Carnival is always targeted as a cause" of violence, adding: "It is a victim of crime rather than a perpetrator."

More than 3,000 stewards will also be on duty during this year's event, double the usual number.

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.

Speaking in Notting Hill on the eve of the carnival, Phillip said those intent on causing trouble were "not welcome".

He added: "We want people to come and celebrate carnival in the spirit that it's meant to be, and that's bringing people together, no matter what religion, race they are, to come and celebrate."

Asked about what a successful carnival would look like for him, he said: "You know, for us, Carnival is always successful. It's a major achievement."

Last year, the Met said it made 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.

In 2024, there were eight stabbings, including the murder of 32-year-old mother Cher Maximen, with the same number the previous year, and seven including a murder in 2022.

The cost of policing the event has also jumped, rising from £11.7m in 2023 to £15.7m in 2025.

The Met said this year, it began its policing operation "many weeks before" the carnival by "identifying and disrupting" those most likely to be involved in violence.

The force said it would use "intelligence-led tactics" such as stop and search and live facial recognition technology, with the latter identifying 98 people, including 30 registered sex offenders, last year.

The force has also worked with the probation service to make sure sex offenders who are likely to attend the event will have conditions attached to their licences preventing them from doing so.

Commander Claire Smart 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 be working relentlessly to identify you and take action."

Commander Charmain Brenyah, the Met's spokeswoman for Carnival, said it was a "considerable budgetary challenge".

City Hall gave organisers an extra £4.6m 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.

She said she hopes the extra City Hall investment means the Met can divert resources to "core policing responsibilities" in the future.

She added the "overwhelming majority" of people who attend the carnival do not cause trouble, despite the history of "serious violence".

Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said he was "proud to have stepped forward once again" and to have granted an extra £4.6m to the organisers.

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