Facial recognition cameras to be used at Notting Hill Carnival, Met says
They will be placed on the approach to and from the west London event, Europe's biggest street party, on the August Bank Holiday weekend, in an effort to spot suspects before the streets get crowded.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward, the police commander for this year's event, said 'there has been a tiny minority of individuals intent on causing serious harm to others' and the cameras, which will be outside the carnival's boundaries, may also help revellers get home safely.
A link-up with the Elba Hope Foundation, the youth organisation led by actor Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina, aimed at helping tackle knife crime is among the measures being introduced.
Around 7,000 officers and staff will be deployed each day over the carnival weekend.
Live facial recognition (LFR) cameras will be used by police at the carnival to search for people who are marked as being wanted on the Police National Computer.
They will also be used to spot those who are shown as missing – including young people who may also be at risk of either criminal or sexual exploitation – and people who have sexual harm prevention orders against them because of the risk they pose, particularly to women and girls.
So far in 2025 there have been 215 arrests from 111 deployments of LFR cameras, which capture live footage of people passing by and compare their faces against a watchlist of wanted offenders.
The system generates an alert if a match is detected, prompting an officer to review it and decide if they need to speak to the individual.
Further checks, such as reviewing court orders or other relevant information, are also carried out to see if the person is a suspect.
The force said that if a member of the public walks past an LFR camera and is not wanted by the police, their biometrics are immediately and permanently deleted.
Officers are also working with the Crimestoppers charity as part of a plan to keep the carnival free from knife crime, serious violence and violence against women and girls.
The focus will be on deterring or preventing people who pose the greatest threat to public safety and the security of the event, the force said.
The police said they will be using stop and search powers to prevent knives and other deadly weapons being carried at carnival.
It means that intelligence on violent gangs who are planning to attend the carnival is being shared with forces across the country and banning orders are being sought against those who have a history of violence or sexual offending at the event.
A number of 'pre-emptive intelligence-led arrests and searches' are being used against suspects believed to be in possession of weapons or involved in the supply of drugs.
There were 160 such arrests before last year's carnival prior to the event for offences including possession of firearms, drugs supply, rape and other serious sexual assaults.
Windrush campaigners urge government to save Notting Hill Carnival
Visitors may also have to go through screening arches which are being set up at some of the busiest entry points.
Mr Ward said: 'Regrettably, amongst the millions of carnivalists who have attended over many years there has been a tiny minority of individuals intent on causing serious harm to others, including violent crime and sexual offences.
'Their actions stand in stark contrast to the traditions and values of Carnival and I welcome those voices in the community who have stood up to condemn violence and serious criminality at the event.
'I fully support the organisers' recent announcement of a new, innovative partnership with the Elba Hope Foundation to divert young people away from crime and particularly knife crime.'
He said that the 'carnival's growing popularity and size creates unique challenges' and the priority for police officers and staff working across the long weekend will be to keep people safe, including 'preventing serious violence, such as knife crime and violence against women and girls'.
The Met also appealed for anyone with information about groups or individuals intending to engage in violence at this year's Notting Hill Carnival to come forward.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Met warns against supporting proscribed groups ahead of London protests
The Metropolitan Police has warned that anyone showing support for proscribed organisations during planned protests in London this weekend could face arrest under terrorism laws. An increased police presence is expected in Westminster on Saturday when a number of demonstrations are due to take place, including a large-scale march by the Palestine Coalition and a static counter-protest by Stop the Hate. The Met said it also anticipates further protest activity in support of the recently proscribed group Palestine Action, which is now banned under the Terrorism Act. Seventy people were arrested at similar demonstrations in Parliament Square over the past two weekends, and the location of any action this Saturday is yet to be confirmed. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, who is leading the policing operation, said officers are experienced in managing events of this nature but warned that those who use the protests as an opportunity to express support for proscribed groups risk serious legal consequences. 'This Saturday's Palestine Coalition protest is the first large-scale event of its kind since the proscription of Palestine Action and I want to make sure the implications of that change in the law are fully understood,' he said. 'Nobody will be committing an offence by simply supporting the Palestinian cause, taking part in the march or carrying flags, banners or other signs providing they don't stray into hate speech or other offences. 'However, those who see this as an opportunity to test the limits of the law by expressing support for Palestine Action, whether at a standalone protest or as part of the Palestine Coalition protest, will likely be committing an offence and will very likely be arrested.' He added: 'I would urge those people to consider the seriousness of being arrested under the Terrorism Act and the very real long-term implications – from travel, to employment, to finances – that such an arrest is likely to have for their future.' Mr Adelekan also said the force is continuing to investigate 'offensive chanting' that took place at Glastonbury Festival and has been repeated at recent protests in London. He said officers would assess chants at Saturday's protest 'based on the specific circumstances' – noting that words shouted generally during the march may not constitute an offence, but could do so if directed at individuals in a way likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. 'At previous protests, the area between the main march and any counter protest has seen the most heated exchanges. Officers will be particularly alert to conduct, including chanting, in this area and will be working with stewards to ensure crowds keep moving past this point,' he said. 'Where they become aware of behaviour that crosses the line from protest into criminality they will intervene and take appropriate action.' He said the best way for protesters to stay within the law is to avoid 'threatening, abusive and insulting language' or any support for banned groups. The Palestine Coalition march will begin at Victoria Embankment and proceed via Westminster Bridge, York Road, Waterloo Bridge, the Strand, and Whitehall, where speeches will be held.
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
Met Police to close half its 24/7 front desks
The UK's largest police force is set to close nearly half its public front counters as it battles a £260mn black hole in its budget. Only 19 Metropolitan Police counters will remain open across the capital, down from 37, with only eight operating around the clock. The Met insisted most Londoners use their phones to flag crimes, with only five per cent of crimes reported at front counters. But sources inside City Hall say frontline officers were left blindsided by the move, finding out about the cuts just hours before the official announcement. Police chiefs said the decision was necessary to 'protect other services' as the force tried to plug the funding gap. Gareth Roberts, the Liberal Democrat Assembly member, blamed 'Labour's refusal to properly fund policing in the capital'. Susan Hall, the Conservative Assembly member, said she was 'apoplectic' and described the decision as 'Sadiq Khan's callous choice to underfund our Met Police'. She said it means Londoners will 'lose another avenue to report the crime they experience'. It comes just weeks after Selina Scott, the former ITV News at Ten anchor, was assaulted and robbed in central London. She said she couldn't find a police officer to report the crime to, adding: 'I resolved to find a police officer, but despite walking up and down some of London's busiest central areas – down Jermyn Street, along Piccadilly and over to Leicester Square – I saw none.' The Met said the proposals would help free up officers for street patrols and neighbourhood policing, with more PCSOs and officers planned. But with just one counter per basic command unit – covering three boroughs at a time – there are fears that many Londoners will be left without reasonable access to in-person police contact. The move has drawn sharp condemnation from the Conservatives and some Labour members. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said it was an example of 'a Labour Government and Labour Mayor trashing policing in London'. He added: 'Labour has shut down half the public counters where people can speak to the police face-to-face and forced the Met to cut 1,500 officers this financial year alone. This is not backing our police, it's dismantling frontline policing when communities need it most. 'Now, over 1,800 more police jobs are on the line because of Labour's reckless police funding decisions. The message is clear – Labour won't back our police and they won't back action to cut crime. 'A Labour Government and Labour Mayor are trashing policing in London. Conservatives left behind record ever police numbers but now Labour is letting down the police and exposing the public to risk from dangerous criminals.' Len Duvall, the Labour Assembly chairman, said that the announcement 'goes to the heart of trust and confidence in the Met' whilst calling for the decision to be urgently reconsidered. A spokesperson for the Met said: 'Given the Met's budget shortfall and shrinking size, it is no longer sustainable to keep all front counters open. That's why we have taken the tough choice to pursue some closures and a reduction in hours, allowing us to focus resources relentlessly on tackling crime and putting more officers into neighbourhoods across London.' A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: 'Any change to the number of police front counters or their opening times is an operational decision for the Met, based on resources, funding and public demand for services.'
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
The controversial crime-fighting tactic police will use at Notting Hill Carnival
The Metropolitan Police will deploy live facial recognition (LFR) cameras at Notting Hill Carnival next month as part of extensive crime-cutting measures. These cameras will be used to identify individuals wanted on the Police National Computer, missing persons, and those subject to sexual harm prevention orders. The LFR technology, which has led to 215 arrests from 111 deployments in 2025, will be positioned on the approaches to the carnival to spot suspects before crowds gather. Other safety initiatives include a partnership with the Elba Hope Foundation to combat knife crime, the deployment of 7,000 officers daily, stop and search powers, and pre-emptive arrests. The police aim to prevent serious violence, knife crime, and violence against women and girls, ensuring the safety of attendees at Europe's largest street party.
