Notting Hill Carnival: Police issue stop and search order after ‘serious stabbings’ near festival

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The Metropolitan Police has issued a Section 60 stop and search order after a number of “serious stabbings” around Notting Hill Carnival.

The order, which the force issued at 9.24pm on Monday night, will be in place until 1am on Tuesday.

It comes after officers confirmed they had made 38 arrests by 7.30pm at the annual carnival on Sunday. The alleged offences included drug possession, criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon. There were 10 arrests for assault and two for sexual assault.

The Met also said that two people suffered injuries after footage emerged online showing several people standing and dancing on the top of a bus shelter before it collapsed.

Posting to the Metropolitan Police Events Twitter account on Monday night, officers said: “A Section 60 order is in place within the Notting Hill Carnival footprint and borders.

“This commenced at 21:24 hours tonight until 01:00 hours [on] August 30.

“This is following a number of violent incidents and serious stabbings.

“Crowds remain within the footprint and wider areas.”

Section 60 orders are issued under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act and allow officers to conduct stop and searches for “dangerous instruments and offensive weapons” without needing suspicion in the wake of major incidents.

The order can only be put in place for a specific period of time within a certain area if it is thought that there will be further violence in that area.

Similar orders were issued by the London force during Notting Hill Carnival celebrations in 2018 and 2019.

Revellers flocked to the streets of west London over the bank holiday to mark the return of the carnival after a three-year hiatus brought on by the pandemic.

Speaking on Sunday, mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was “really pleased carnival is back”, before later tweeting: “Biggest street party in Europe! And the vibes are immaculate.”

The two-day event was lined by a substantial police presence to prevent disorder.

The force announced on Sunday night that it had launched an investigation into the sudden death of an on-duty police horse at the carnival. Officers said the animal, PH Sandown, collapsed at about 9pm on Sunday. Despite being given emergency care, it died at the scene.

In a tribute on Monday, the force said the 14-year-old chestnut gelding, had policed all types of events across London during his seven years of service.

The statement paid tribute to PH Sandown’s “bravery and courageousness” as well as his “affectionate character”.