The Metropolitan Police has defended their tactics ahead of the Notting Hill Carnival after rapper Stormzy accused Scotland Yard of only targeting 'black events'.

In response to a tweeted police picture of a suspected drug seizure, the rapper replied: 'How many drugs did you lot seize in the run up to Glastonbury or we only doing tweets like this for black events?'

And today the officer in charge of policing the carnival has hit back, with Commander Dave Musker saying, 'I cannot remember a single murder at Glastonbury'.

It comes as this year's carnival is at the centre of an unprecedented security operation amid heightened fears of terrorism following recent atrocities in Barcelona.

The carnival will be protected by a ring of steel that will see barriers erected to protect revellers and there will be a daytime ban on vehicles after terrorists used a van to plough into crowds in the Spanish city.

And following a recent spate of acid attacks across London, officers will be stationed around the perimeter of the carnival carrying out searches of festival-goers.

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

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

There will also be a protective ring of officers around Grenfell Tower and the Lancaster West estate to protect the area.

In the build-up to the event, the Metropolitan Police has made 656 arrests as part of a crackdown on criminality.

But the force has come in for criticism for their strong-arm tactics.

Earlier this week they tweeted a picture of suspected drugs and said they had seized what they believed was a kilogram of uncut heroin.

This prompted Stormzy to hit back.

But Commander Dave Musker insists he is 'unapologetic' about the force's approach to policing the carnival.

Stormy wrote on Twitter: 'How many drugs did you lot seize in the run up to Glastonbury or we only doing tweets like this for black events?'

Preparations for Notting Hill Carnival are well under way as shops are boarded up on Westbourne Grove in west London (pictured)

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)

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

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.'

Ring of steel Special measures are being taken to protect Notting Hill Carnival from the threat of terrorism and acid attacks. Steel barriers and a ban on vehicles during the daytime will be in place over the bank holiday weekend to stop a terror attack. David Musker, the commander in charge of policing the west London event, said there was no specific counter-terrorism intelligence but security plans had been 'thoroughly reviewed' after the Barcelona attack, in which 15 people died after being hit by a van. Officers will be stationed around the perimeter of the carnival zone, carrying out checks for weapons and acid, following a controversial three-week crackdown to reduce criminality at the event. There will also be a protective ring of officers around Grenfell Tower and the Lancaster West estate to protect the space from carnival-goers and ensure a 'respectful' two days. Advertisement

'But that is the point of doing that. To get people who would normally come to carnival to cause problems off the streets before the event.'

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.

Commander Musker added: 'I don't really care what we arrest them for. I'll be lawfully audacious, as I can, to get them off the streets.

'So whether they've got heroin, or they've got other class A drugs, drug dealing, serious violence takes place at carnival, we will try and target them and get them off the streets.

'So it's a fallacy to suspect that because they're caught in possession of heroin that they are not coming to carnival.'

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.

Grenfell T-shirts were being sold on Friday for a charity on Portobello Road, where the carnival is taking place this Bank Holiday weekend

A woman held up a Grenfell Tower T-shirt which was being sold close to the remains of the block of flats

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

PREVIOUS ARRESTS AT NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL 2016 - Sun 156, Mon 298, total = 454 2015 - Sun 126, Mon 281, total = 407 2014 - Sun 104, Mon 148, total = 252 2013 - Sun 111, Mon 190, total = 301 2012 - Sun 98, Mon 180, total = 278 2011 - Sun 73, Mon 172, total = 245 2010 - Sun 93, Mon 150, total = 243 2009 - Sun 78, Mon 165, total = 243 2008 - Sun 108, Mon 172, total = 280 2007 - Sun 82, Mon 164, total = 246 2006 - Sun 109, Mon 168, total = 277 2005 - Sun 61, Mon 122, total = 183 2004 - Sun 62, Mon 105, total = 167 2003 - Sun 91, Mon 95, total = 186 2002 - Sun 56, Mon 102, total = 158 Advertisement

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.

Asked if she felt it was fair to link the raids to the carnival, chief superintendent Robyn Williams said: 'An intelligence-led and proactive response to criminality is the Met's response.

'It isn't exclusive to carnival, we would put it in place for a whole range of large-scale events. In terms of carnival we are uncompromising in our efforts for it to be safe and secure this year.'

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.

During raids across London (above) in the last three weeks, the Metropolitan Police made 656 arrests connected to the carnival, as well as seizing 400 weapons and 27 firearms

The officer in charge of policing the carnival, Commander Dave Musker, has defended the force's robust tactics