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Last Updated: Friday, 22 August, 2003, 23:47 GMT 00:47 UK
Carnival 'troublemakers' told: Stay away
Notting Hill Carnival
Officers will be on the lookout
Police are targeting suspected troublemakers in an attempt to make west London's Notting Hill Carnival run smoothly this weekend.

Europe's biggest street party is expected to attract up to a million revellers on Sunday and Monday.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Trotter told BBC News 17 people across the city had already been arrested and another 80 had been sent letters warning them to stay at home.

The letters said: "We know who you are and what you look like ... We don't think it's a good idea for you to go to carnival," he added.

Officers were delivering the letters by hand and speaking to the recipients, Mr Trotter told BBC News.

"We're trying to let people know we are on their case," he added.

"If they do come we have a good chance of picking them up, putting some surveillance behind them and dealing with them," he told BBC News.

We will only relax on Tuesday morning
Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Trotter

In 2000, two men were murdered at the carnival and another 11 stabbed.

Last year's event saw 142 arrests.

This year's carnival theme is Peace on the Streets.

And to help keep the peace organisers have employed 1,000 stewards trained in crowd management.

They will be joined by 9,750 police officers in a �5m operation making it the Met's most expensive public event.

"We will only relax on Tuesday morning," Mr Trotter said.




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