Carnival police fear tribute to Grenfell could turn violent
Warning as 300 are held in Notting Hill drugs swoops
‘Intend to cause trouble’
POLICE and campaigners fear anger over the Grenfell Tower disaster could spill over into violence at this weekend’s Notting Hill Carnival.
Officers are erecting a ring of steel around the building to prevent any disorder disrupting their investigation.
The wrecked tower looms over the festival route, and the entire estate on which it stands will be guarded by dozens of officers.
Measures have been taken to ensure informal memorials of flowers, photos and tributes are protected from vandalism.
Festival organisers have pledged to bring the carnival to a ‘standstill’ with a minute’s silence for more than 80 people who lost their lives in the fire.
They want to establish a ‘quiet zone’ near the site with bands and floats stopping their music and revellers asked to pass ‘respectfully’. Carnival-goers are being asked to wear green in support of survivors and friends and families of those who died.
But senior officers are concerned lingering hostility toward local authorities over the tragedy could be used by thugs to hijack the event.
Some rabble-rousing activists at the centre of dissent in the days after the blaze are closely linked to carnival organisers. At a recent public meeting, campaigners said they are concerned the tragedy could be used as an excuse for violence.
Clarrie Mendy, 58, whose relative Khadija Saye died, said: ‘I can see that if we’re not careful and strategically plan, there are going to be problems … What is going to be unleashed when people see the tower?’
The Metropolitan Police has already arrested more than 290 people in a city-wide crackdown ahead of the carnival.
Suspects were held for drug supply, weapons possession and child exploitation as more than 190 knives, 18 firearms and crack cocaine worth £ 60,000 were seized. Officers are determined to disrupt criminal gangs linked to street violence.
Many of those arrested were released with bail conditions banning them from Notting Hill over the Bank Holiday weekend. The death of a reveller or serious disorder at this year’s carnival could signal the end of the event in its current form, which attracts more than a million people to the west London neighbourhood. Last year 450 were arrested, the most since 2008. Police racked up an £8million bill with up to 7,000 officers on the streets.
Four people were stabbed so seriously they nearly died and more than 90 weapons were seized, including ‘zombie knives’ and a stun gun. There were more than 45 attacks on officers.
Police leaders have also warned the carnival risks a ‘Hillsborough-scale tragedy’ unless urgent action is taken to deal with the huge crowds. Officials said it is at a ‘tipping point’ because of the sheer numbers of people.
This year Scotland Yard will employ facial recognition CCTV cameras for the second time, to identify banned individuals and known criminals.
Officers known as ‘super recognisers’ for their ability to remember faces will be on duty, as well as undercover spotters and armed teams.
The force employs a ‘hope for the best, prepare for the worst’ approach to the carnival, with its heaviest armoury hidden away at schools and a Territorial Army centre. Armoured trucks are driven in from its Gravesend firearms centre, carrying hundreds of baton rounds.
The police tactic to target gang members before the event caused controversy, with one music star accusing the Met of targeting ‘black events’ after it tweeted about the operation. Michael Omari, 24, better known as rapper Stormzy, wrote online: ‘How many drugs did you lot seize in the run-up to Glastonbury or [are] we only doing tweets like this for black events?’
The Met’s Chief Superintendent Robyn Williams said the raids were aimed at ‘those who intend to cause trouble’, adding: ‘We are committed to ensuring that carnival remains a safe, vibrant and enjoyable event; troublemakers are not welcome.’