Residents and businesses have boarded up their properties as they brace for a weekend of carnage during the Notting Hill Carnival.
Some 7,000 Metropolitan Police officers and staff will be on duty to manage two million revellers who are set to descend on the streets of west London from Saturday.
But homeowners and business owners remain fearful for the safety of their properties following last year's record-breaking number of arrests, with the festival notorious for crime.
There were two stabbings at last year's event, compared to two murders and eight stabbings in 2024.
Photos taken today show locals covering up their homes and shops with protective boarding to stop revellers vandalising them.
A Tesco Express on Ladbroke Road was covered up with temporary boards yesterday, while its cashpoint was cordoned off with tape.
More than 3,000 stewards will be on duty this weekend - double the usual number - after crowd control responsibilities were transferred from Scotland Yard to the event organisers following an extra £4.66million grant announced by Sir Sadiq Khan in March.
But Susan Hall, leader of the Conservative group at the London Assembly, said she remained concerned about the security risks and called on the Mayor to 'get a grip on this once and for all before more people are injured or die needlessly'.
A stunning home in Notting Hill is boarded up today ahead of Notting Hill Carnival this weekend
More houses are covered up with temporary boards as locals fear for the safety of their buildings
A business is boarded up in Notting Hill ahead of the carnival, which starts on Saturday
A row of stunning homes is seen covered up ahead of the chaotic event
More shops are boarded up to protect the properties from damage during the carnival
Metropolitan Police Federation chair Paula Dodds warned officers were 'already stretched beyond belief', adding that their 'welfare must remain a top priority'.
The Met said last year's policing operation cost about £15million – and while the force hopes this year's total cost will be lower, this 'still represents a very significant financial outgoing in the context of unprecedented budget challenges for policing'.
The force said operations involving live facial recognition and number plate checks were being carried out to locate wanted offenders before and during the carnival.
Police are also making arrests of gang members and Violence Against Women and Girls (Vawg) suspects. There is also a ban in bail conditions and prevention orders for high-risk people attending the event, especially domestic abusers and sex offenders.
Weapon sweeps of known gang areas are being made, walkthrough metal detectors known as knife arches will be in use and there will be increased uniformed police patrols in parks and open spaces.
Detectives are also carrying out targeted checks on hotels and short-stay accommodation to catch people involved in child exploitation and county lines.
Organisers said there will be increased safety and crowd control measures for the carnival, which is marking its 60th anniversary – including a bigger control room, more CCTV cameras to monitor revellers and signs to alert them to possible hold-ups.
The Tesco Express on Ladbroke Grove is boarded up with temporary hoardings yesterday
A man carries a board to cover up a property in Notting Hill today ahead of the Carnival
Properties around Notting Hill are boarded up ahead of the Carnival this weekend
Graffiti-covered boards are installed outside a building in the Notting Hill area today
Temporary hoardings and plywood fencing are used to protect a property in Notting Hill today
Boards are erected around a property today to protect it ahead of the Notting Hill Carnival
But Ms Hall said: 'I must confess I am concerned about the security risks at the Notting Hill Carnival, which my report last summer examined.
'The Mayor has given a lot of taxpayer money to fund this event, leaving taxpayers on the hook for safety measures, without providing any targets for security.
'People should be safe when attending events like Carnival, and I worry that they simply are not - least of all as police resources are being cut at the same time.
'The Mayor needs to get a grip on this once and for all before more people are injured or die needlessly.'
Ms Dodds said the federation, which represents 30,000 officers across London, will be closely monitoring the welfare and wellbeing of police at the carnival as well as any incidents of them coming under attack.
The organisation will be carrying out a live survey to ask officers if the force has granted them sufficient rest between their shifts and if they have had access to food and water.