40 held in pre-carnival London dawn swoops

SCOTLAND YARD staged a series of dawn swoops during preemptive strikes to avoid the Notting Hill Carnival becoming a victim of England’s rioting crisis.

A total of 40 suspects have been arrested in raids across London during preparations for the force’s biggest policing presence at the event. The Metropolitan Police launched a “robust” carnival strategy as intelligence suggested gangs are planning trouble.

A team of armoured officers descended on one leafy terraced street in west London to arrest an 18-year-old suspected drug dealer as officers executed five warrants yesterday morning.

Pre-event arrests are down on last year but Scotland Yard Commander Steve Rodhouse says he is “really confident” he has the resources at his disposal to protect the event on Sunday and Monday.

A total of 5,500 officers will be on patrol in the carnival area on Sunday while 6,500 will take to the streets on Monday.

There will be more than 4,000 additional officers elsewhere in London “as well as the thousands who are normally on duty”, Rodhouse said.