The Newshound

Former Met officer calls for Notting Hill Carnival to be abolished as two million descend on west London

Knife violence at previous Notting Hill Carnivals has prompted calls to scrap the event, with 525 crimes recorded at last year's festival and dozens of zombie knives already confiscated ahead of this year's event.
Knife violence at previous Notting Hill Carnivals has prompted calls to scrap the event, with 525 crimes recorded at last year's festival and dozens of zombie knives already confiscated ahead of this year's event.
Scotland Yard will deploy more than 7,000 officers across the bank holiday weekend, with over 330 people already barred under bail conditions from attending the 60th anniversary carnival.
Scotland Yard will deploy more than 7,000 officers across the bank holiday weekend, with over 330 people already barred under bail conditions from attending the 60th anniversary carnival.

Notting Hill Carnival marks its 60th edition this year, with revellers already daubing each other in neon paint and setting off coloured smoke flares during the pre-dawn J'Ouvert celebrations, as an estimated two million people prepare to pack the streets of west London across the bank holiday weekend. An ex-Metropolitan Police officer has called for the event to be "abolished or moved," citing 525 crimes recorded last year, as well as scores of assaults on officers and scores of weapons recovered.

Retired Met officer Norman Brennan said: 'It's often full of murders, stabbings, rapes, serious assaults — we can't wait for the event to finish.'

Homeowners and shopkeepers along Portobello Road have boarded up their properties, with one resident saying: 'Every year we have to deal with people being sick in our garden.'

Brennan argued that issuing public warnings to women about the risk of sexual assault at a festival proves the event 'has gone too far.'

MoreEvening StandardNotting Hill Carnival: 330 people banned from festival in massive police operation to stop violenceThe SunThousands of party-goers doused in paint as Notting Hill Carnival begins withEvening StandardResidents board up their properties ahead of Notting Hill CarnivalDaily MailNotting Hill Carnival starts as revellers douse each other with paintEvening StandardNotting Hill Carnival 2026: Full list of road and Tube station closuresGB NewsFormer Met officer calls for Notting Hill Carnival to be ‘abolished or moved’ over rampant crime: ‘Gone too far!’
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