In the run up to the August Bank Holiday Weekend’s iconic London event, Notting Hill Carnival, the Metropolitan Police have been making a series of raids and arrests in effort to disrupt gang crime and drug supply.
Since Friday 11th August police have made over 290 arrests for a range of offences. The police commented that the crackdown was to target groups that could impact the safety of the carnival.
Prior to #NottingHillCarnival, we're disrupting gang crime, drug supply, knife crime & offences that could impact the safety of the weekend
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) August 22, 2017
However, yesterday faced a back lash following a tweet by the Met where they showed seized drugs in a raid in Catford announcing that this effort was ‘in the run up to #NottingHillCarnival’.
In the run up to #NottingHillCarnival, officers have this morning seized what is believed to be a kilo of uncut heroin in #Catford pic.twitter.com/pUCya5lrvj
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) August 22, 2017
Critics on Twitter including grime artist Stormzy has taken to Twitter to question and mock the Met’s tweet linking the raids in South London (Catford) to the iconic street festival in Notting Hill – 12 miles away from the raid.
How many drugs did you lot seize in the run up to Glastonbury or we only doing tweets like this for black events? https://t.co/v7XYvSg29t
— #GSAP (@Stormzy1) August 22, 2017
The Notting Hill Carnival would be fucking terrible on heroin. I strongly advocate taking a different drug.
— Chris Taylor (@the_itch1980) August 22, 2017
It also prompted a trending meme on Twitter whereby people joked by using equally unrelated trivial events to the carnival by Tweeting ‘in the run up to #NottingHillCarnival…’.
It's like saying "in the run up to a festival about oranges, here is some news about dolphins."
Irrelevant.
Your racism is showing. https://t.co/nkQ0LCARf9
— Kelechi Okafor (@kelechnekoff) August 22, 2017
In the run up to #nottinghillcarnival a pigeon flew into my kitchen window and landed in the fag bucket @metpoliceuK
— #ACTIVE (@professorgreen) August 22, 2017
In the run up to #NottingHillCarnival the Whitehouse is on lockdown.
— lily (@lilyallen) August 22, 2017
In the run up to #NottingHillCarnival, I've covered my dog with a blanket because it's too cold in #HemelHempstead. pic.twitter.com/utatPziwqB
— Carli Fish (@Carli__F) August 22, 2017
In the run up to #NottingHillCarnival, I've just had what is believed to be a pasty in Waterloo https://t.co/joWXV5dbKx
— Mo Gilligan (@MoTheComedian) August 22, 2017
In the run up to #NottingHillCarnival, I am hanging out my washing and hoping it doesn't rain. pic.twitter.com/9MjKWHB0LI
— LaToyah McAllister (@Yogibear311) August 22, 2017
In the run up to #NottingHillCarnival I stole a handful of pick n mix from my own sweet jar #theft @metpoliceuk @professorgreen @Stormzy1 😳
— #TheMajik (@m8loid) August 22, 2017
In the run up to #NottingHillCarnival, we have seized what is believed to be the remnants of Caterpillar cake in #SouthLondon. @metpoliceuk pic.twitter.com/8ukrmkC2u7
— Ninja Tune (@ninjatune) August 22, 2017
In the run up to #NottingHillCarnival my almond milk finished but I want bran flakes so I might risk it and use dairy milk instead https://t.co/kzpFdRb059
— Tania Nwachukwu (@gwehgweh1) August 22, 2017
In the run up to #Nottinghillcarnival I've tripped over uneven pavement in #Toronto Canada pic.twitter.com/Y6miF9WvaY
— Ur fav bartender (@1choicelfc) August 22, 2017
in the run up to #NottingHillCarnival, the moon has appeared to make an aggressive move to "take over" the solar system. carnival to blame. https://t.co/g4JJDzAyNO
— beth mccoll (@imteddybless) August 22, 2017
Chief Superintendent Robyn Williams, the spokesperson for the Met for Notting Hill Carnival yesterday said, “Our officers have been proactive and focused on tackling serious violence and knife crime across London.
“Today’s operation is aimed at ensuring that those who intend to cause trouble at Carnival are prohibited from doing so.
“We are committed to ensuring that Carnival remains a safe, vibrant and enjoyable event; troublemakers are not welcome.
“We will be uncompromising in our operations to keep our communities safe and secure.
“People can expect to see operational activity right up until and throughout the bank holiday weekend.”
Notting Hill Carnival starts this Saturday 26th August and runs until Monday 28th August.
