Record Police Numbers For Notting Hill Carnival

A huge police operation has enabled thousands of people to enjoy the Notting Hill Carnival.

Around 6,500 police officers have been deployed in west London, mainly from the Metropolitan Police, but officers have also travelled from as far away as Devon and Cornwall.

Europe's biggest street festival has so far seen 170 arrests - between 6am on Sunday and Monday evening - for a variety of offences including drugs possession, public order, theft, criminal damage, robbery and assault.

Police chiefs launched a "robust" strategy by making more than 40 pre-emptive arrests and agreeing an earlier finish time with carnival organisers.

Metropolitan Police Commander Steve Rodhouse said in addition to the thousands of officers on duty at the carnival itself, there were also an additional 4,000 across the rest of London.

He said: "It is only right that we reviewed our plans in the light of the disorder and we worked with the stewards to make a few changes.

"We have got more officers here than normal, there are more stewards, but the key part of our plan has been making sure that known troublemakers have not even been able to make their way to the event.

"Before the event even started we made a number of arrests and put plans in place to stop troublemakers from all over London even getting here in the first place.

"It has been a great event - our key role is to make sure people are safe, we have had to make fewer arrests than normal, so we are happy but we are not complacent.

"We do realise Monday is traditionally the busier day here and equally much of the disorder has previously taken place in the evening."

Leonie Gilbert, 21, from Ealing, west London, was with a group of friends dressed as sailors among the crowds of revellers.

She was three months old at her very first Notting Hill Carnival and has been coming every year since.

She told Sky News: "I think especially after the riots it is so nice to see such a positive vibe from young people, I love it!"

"This is the real London, there are so many more people here than were rioting."

The carnival hosted around fifty floats that slowly made their way through the streets of west London.

The vehicles were stacked with speakers providing the soundtrack to the giant street party.

Many residents choose to leave the capital for the bank holiday weekend event, but just as many opt to stay and join in.