The Metropolitan Police has defended their tactics ahead of the Notting Hill Carnival after rapper Stormzy accused Scotland Yard of only targeting ‘black events’.
Earlier this week the force tweeted a picture of suspected drugs and said they had seized what they believed was a kilogram of uncut heroin.
This prompted Stormzy to reply, ‘how many drugs did you lot seize in the run up to Glastonbury or we only doing tweets like this for black events?’
Now the man in charge of policing the carnival, Commander Dave Musker, has hit back at the musician and said his officers will arrest anyone, anywhere, who they suspected of causing trouble.
Police have defended their tactics ahead of the Notting Hill Carnival after being criticised by rapper Stormzy. Homes in the area have been boarded up (pictured) ahead of festivities
Colourful: Stall holders (above) are up and running ahead of this weekend’s Notting Hill Carnival
Rapper Stormzy (left) accused police of only targeting ‘black events’. The officer in charge of policing the carnival, Commander Dave Musker (right) has defended the force’s tactics
He said: ‘What do the public expect of us? Last year we had 70 to 80 stabbings, four of them people who nearly lost their lives in attempted murders.
‘My officers saved the lives of those people but I cannot remember a single murder at Glastonbury.
‘We are going to be uncompromising in ensuring the safety and security of the public and if that means putting a significant effort into dealing with criminality before carnival I am unapologetic about that and will continue to do it.’
In the run up to the carnival workman have been busy erecting boards outside million pound homes in the exclusive area.
Dozens of huge boards tagged with graffiti were tacked up to businesses and homes in Kensington and Chelsea to ward off anti-social behaviour.
Last year the event saw 454 people taken into custody after the carnival became violent and property at Europe’s largest street party was destroyed.
More than a million revellers are expected to descend onto Notting Hill Carnival and six foot-tall fences have been erected to protect homes and gardens (pictured)
Preparations for Notting Hill Carnival are well under way as shops are boarded up on Westbourne Grove in west London (pictured)
Multi-million pound terrace homes saw the six foot boards erected outside to protect front gardens and doors whilst lines of boutique shops, including pubs and an art gallery pinned the boards to shop fronts.
The controversial carnival costs over £6 million to police and prepare for every year but it is thought to bring in millions to the local economy.
Some households in Kensington and Chelsea, Britain’s most expensive borough, have even decided to go away for the weekend due to the street festival’s reputation.
Commander Musker also defended the force’s use of facial recognition technology – after human rights groups raised concerns it could be illegal.
The Metropolitan Police has made 656 arrests connected to the carnival in the last weeks, as well as seizing 400 weapons and 27 firearms.
More than a million revellers are expected to descend onto Notting Hill Carnival, led by the local West Indian Community.
Following on from the Grenfell Tower disaster in June Scotland Yard and Transport For London will be blocking off streets close to the tower to try and stop ‘grief tourist’ revellers from taking selfies near the tower.
The controversial carnival costs more than £6 million to police and prepare for every year – but it is also brings in millions to the local economy
A stall holder (pictured) is already selling merchandise ahead of the weekend’s Notting Hill Carnival
Following on from the Grenfell Tower disaster, streets close to the tower will be blocked off to try and stop ‘grief tourist’ revellers from taking selfies near the tower