Graffiti artists have already moved in to spray designs on the boarded-up shops as Notting Hill prepares for its Carnival
- Locals and businesses boarded up in preparation for the carnival which have since been tagged by artists
- The carnival first started in 1966 and attracts millions of visitors a year but it also brings crime and trouble
Notting Hill has been covered in graffiti as it prepares for carnival.
The carnival started as an indoor celebration from 1959 to 1966 by Trinidadian communist Claudia Jones in response to the Notting Hill race riots in 1958.
The murder of aspiring Antigua lawyer Kelso Cochrane spurred on Rhaune Laslett to organise a children’s street fayre that ended up being the first outdoor carnival in 1966.
Now, it is one of the most exciting weekends for Londoners and draws in millions of pounds as people enjoy the cultural celebrations, music, food and eccentric costumes.
But graffiti artists have made the most of the plywood set up by locals and now there are tags everywhere.
Businesses in the area even pay companies to board up their establishments.
And the boarding up of property is not cheap, as wine bar manager Luigi Gaudio paid a whopping £1,500 to have his store protected.
He added that the council gets local artists to graffiti the wooden boards after they have been erected.
A Sainsbury’s supermarket in Portobello road is boarded up and covered in graffiti in preparation for the Notting Hill carnival. The Notting Hill Carnival as Europe’s largest street festival
Shops and businesses are boarded up and covered in graffiti. Many locals and businesses board up because of the crime associated with the carnival
As well as criminal acts, there was a huge crush at last year’s festival that left ‘helpless’ police trapped alongside revellers
The carnival started as an indoor celebration from 1959 to 1966 by Trinidadian communist Claudia Jones in response to the Notting Hill race riots in 1958
People sit outside of a cafe with protective boarding and temporary fencing outside. Graffiti artists have made the most of the plywood set up by locals and now there are tags everywhere
Businesses in the area even pay companies to board up their establishments. Locals complain about people going to toilet on their properties
And the boarding up of property is not cheap, as wine bar manager Luigi Gaudio paid a whopping £1,500 to have his store protected
In advance of the carnival’s commencement tomorrow, the Met Police tweeted: ‘We have highly visible police presence within the area of Notting Hill with the #NottingHillCarnival23 this weekend
Munian Barakat, who lives in the area and is originally from Palestine, told The Sun that the front of her building and her front door gets used as a toilet, and rubbish is thrown over her fence
The event is hugely popular and has been known to attract an astonishing 2 million people in years gone by, as revellers flock to see the three-and-a-half mile parade with colourful floats and performances
READ MORE: August bank holiday 2023 travel information and advice: Notting Hill Carnival revellers and more to experience major disruptions
However, some homeowners in the area have been seen to board up their properties as the joyous event can often descend into violence and disruption.
Last year, police made 209 arrests at the carnival for offences including criminal damage, common assault, drug possession and possession of an offensive weapon. Drill rapper TKorStretch, real name Takayo Nembhard, 21, was also stabbed to death, while two female cops were sexually assaulted.
In advance of the carnival’s commencement tomorrow, the Met Police tweeted: ‘We have highly visible police presence within the area of Notting Hill with the #NottingHillCarnival23 this weekend.
‘Please enjoy the carnival safely – but if something doesn’t feel right, speak to an officer, safety steward or dial 999 in an emergency.’
The event is hugely popular and has been known to attract an astonishing 2 million people in years gone by, as revellers flock to see the three-and-a-half mile parade with colourful floats and performances.
Munian Barakat, who lives in the area and is originally from Palestine, told The Sun that the front of her building and her front door gets used as a toilet, and rubbish is thrown over her fence.
‘That’s why I asked the neighbours to put up the wooden barriers because it’s really dangerous,’ she said. ‘I’m an old woman.’
Ms Barakat is going to her daughter’s house for this year’s carnival but is worried she may come back to find her ‘house destroyed or the windows broken’.
A contractor fences off a library. The council pays local artists to graffiti the wooden boards in time for the long-running carnival
Contractors install temporary toilets. Ms Barakat is going to her daughter’s house for this year’s carnival but is worried she may come back to find her ‘house destroyed or the windows broken’
The murder of aspiring Antigua lawyer Kelso Cochrane spurred on Rhaune Laslett to organise a children’s street fayre that ended up being the first outdoor carnival in 1966
Last year, police made 209 arrests at the carnival for offences including criminal damage, common assault, drug possession and possession of an offensive weapon
As well as criminal acts, there was a huge crush at last year’s festival that left ‘helpless’ police trapped alongside revellers, activating their panic buttons – and leaving colleagues fearing ‘another Hillsborough’.
Videos shared across social media from August 29, 2022, showed an enormous crowd amassing on Ladbroke Grove that was swelling to dangerous levels.
At the scene, police officers were caught up in the chaos and left helpless, while desperate revellers were seen clambering over the railings to escape the impending crush.
The situation had reached such a critical point that the Territorial Support Group called in an emergency and warned they were ‘getting crushed to death’, the Times reports.
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