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Revellers will be asked to pass through airport-style metal detectors at the Notting Hill Carnival in a bid to deter criminals carrying knives.

The knife arches will be openly deployed for the first time at several “strategic” entrances to the carnival area this weekend amid fears of violence among gangs.

In the past, metal detectors have been used by British Transport Police at Underground stations near the carnival area but have not been set up in the street.

Around two million people are expected to attend the Bank Holiday event with police on high alert following the surge of street violence in the capital in recent months.

Superintendent Elisabeth Chapple, the Met’s spokeswoman for the event, said: “We feel this is good response to the amount of knife crime in the capital recently and to the perception that knives could be brought to carnival.

"We have no specific intelligence about that but we want to reassure the public that they will be coming into a safe environment and the police intend to keep it that way.

“We hope this will deter people who might think about coming to carnival with a knife and detect people who are carrying knives.”

Ms Chapple said that people will “flow through“ the knife arches as they would walk down a normal street, adding: “This nothing for people to worry about, people may simply be asked to open their bags to see what is inside.”

In pictures: Notting Hill Carnival 2017 22 show all In pictures: Notting Hill Carnival 2017 1/22 Dancers try to keep cool in the heat at Notting Hill Carnival Getty Images for RedBull 2/22 Crowds flocked to the west London event Rex Features 3/22 Dancers covered themselves in paint Getty Images 4/22 Performers donning colourful outfits made their way through the streets Rex Features 5/22 Revellers enjoying the sunshine at this year's Notting Hill Carnival Getty Images for RedBull 6/22 Thousands of people joined in the celebrations at the 51st event Rex Features 7/22 People of all ages dressed in colourful outfits took to the streets Rex Features 8/22 Dancers donned colourful outfits Rex Features 9/22 Dancers donned colourful outfits AFP/Getty Images 10/22 Revellers take part in the traditional 'J'ouvert' opening ceremony Getty Images 11/22 Dancers perform at the Family Day parade PA 12/22 Sadiq Khan and MP Emma Dent Coad at the opening ceremony AFP/Getty Images 13/22 Paint-covered revellers prepare for carnival Getty Images 14/22 Performers enjoy the opening parade Getty Images 15/22 Doves were released to honour Grenfell Tower victims PA 16/22 Sadiq Khan took part in the dove release PA 17/22 Firefighters joined crowds in a minute's silence for Grenfell victims on the street party's second day BBC 18/22 Performers prepare to take part in the parade on the Monday PA 19/22 Carnival performers parade in the sunshine on the main Parade day AFP/Getty Images 20/22 A carnival performer poses in the sun AFP/Getty Images 21/22 A performer poses on the main Parade day of the Notting Hill Carnival AFP/Getty Images 22/22 A woman dances on day two of the Notting Hill Carnival in London Reuters 1/22 Dancers try to keep cool in the heat at Notting Hill Carnival Getty Images for RedBull 2/22 Crowds flocked to the west London event Rex Features 3/22 Dancers covered themselves in paint Getty Images 4/22 Performers donning colourful outfits made their way through the streets Rex Features 5/22 Revellers enjoying the sunshine at this year's Notting Hill Carnival Getty Images for RedBull 6/22 Thousands of people joined in the celebrations at the 51st event Rex Features 7/22 People of all ages dressed in colourful outfits took to the streets Rex Features 8/22 Dancers donned colourful outfits Rex Features 9/22 Dancers donned colourful outfits AFP/Getty Images 10/22 Revellers take part in the traditional 'J'ouvert' opening ceremony Getty Images 11/22 Dancers perform at the Family Day parade PA 12/22 Sadiq Khan and MP Emma Dent Coad at the opening ceremony AFP/Getty Images 13/22 Paint-covered revellers prepare for carnival Getty Images 14/22 Performers enjoy the opening parade Getty Images 15/22 Doves were released to honour Grenfell Tower victims PA 16/22 Sadiq Khan took part in the dove release PA 17/22 Firefighters joined crowds in a minute's silence for Grenfell victims on the street party's second day BBC 18/22 Performers prepare to take part in the parade on the Monday PA 19/22 Carnival performers parade in the sunshine on the main Parade day AFP/Getty Images 20/22 A carnival performer poses in the sun AFP/Getty Images 21/22 A performer poses on the main Parade day of the Notting Hill Carnival AFP/Getty Images 22/22 A woman dances on day two of the Notting Hill Carnival in London Reuters

Police say slightly more officers will be on duty at this year’s event, with more than 6,000 officers and staff being deployed each day.

On Sunday 6,162 will be on duty and the figure will rise to 6,858 on Monday.

Members of the newly-formed Violent Crime Task Force, a team of specially-selected officers who focus on tackling gangs and violent offenders, will also be working with local police to spot trouble makers.

Meanwhile British Transport Police will use officers trained in spotting the behavioural characteristics of wrong-doers to deter offending.

Undercover officers also mingle with crowds to spot pickpockets and thieves but this year Scotland Yard say it has decided not to deploy facial recognition technology.

Cameras with facial recogniton software have been used in the past two carnivals but they did not result in any arrests.

Ms Chapple added: “We want to reassure people that there are enough officers on the street to provide a safe environment.”

She said: “Above all this a fun, celebratory event and we do not want to change that. I hope it will be fantastic celebration of the culture in the area. The community there has gone through a very difficult time in the aftermath of the Grenfell tragedy and this weekend is a good opportunity to bring everyone together again and celebrate the Caribbean culture.”

Commander Dave Musker, who is in operational charge of policing the carnival, added: “We are seeking to support communities to deliver a safe and spectacular event.”

Be he warned: “Let no one be in any doubt that if you have the intention to come to carnival and be involved in crime or violence, my officers will robustly and proactively target you to keep Londoners safe.”

Last year police made than 300 arrests, including around 50 people caught with offensive weapons or knives. A total of 31 officers were injured.

Police issued advice to carnival goers which includes: