1 August 2011 Last updated at 03:52 ET

Police target Notting Hill Carnival troublemakers

The Notting Hill Carnival is one of the largest festivals of its kind in Europe

Troublemakers planning to attend this year's Notting Hill Carnival are being targeted by the Metropolitan Police in a crackdown on criminal activity.

In the run-up to Carnival, officers will gather intelligence to try to deter known London-based troublemakers and gangs planning to cause trouble.

Officers from the Met's Territorial Support Group (TSG) will be executing search warrants across the capital.

The four-week operation, Operation Razorback, began on Monday.

'Highly sophisticated'

The Notting Hill Carnival takes place in west London over the August Bank Holiday weekend, 27 to 29 August.

Chief Inspector Chris Allmey, said: "Operation Razorback is a highly sophisticated and detailed operation aimed at ensuring those who set out with the sole intention of causing trouble at carnival will not succeed.

"Four weeks of intense activity targeted at preventing troublemakers from getting anywhere near Carnival has been planned and we're committed to making Notting Hill Carnival as safe as it can be, ensuring that the thousands of people who go along to Carnival each year to enjoy this unique and vibrant event.

"We're asking anyone who may know someone intending to cause trouble to get in touch."

Last year, officers successfully conducted 73 search warrants over the four weeks in the run-up to carnival, under Operation Razorback.

This resulted in 101 arrests for a variety of offences including drug offences and possession of bladed articles.