Knife crime will be the top priority at the Notting Hill Carnival this year, police said yesterday.

Officers have been given extra powers to stop and search potential criminals in a bid to crack down on the violence that has blighted the London street festival in recent years.

They will use search wands and number plate recognition technology in a £6m operation to reduce knife crime during the event.

British Transport Police has also set up search points at major Tube stations to detect people trying to bring weapons to the carnival.

Chief Inspector Jo Edwards, of the Metropolitan Police, said: "We're doing all we can to bring down knife crime.

"People across London are concerned about knife crime. We share their concerns and we are doing all we can to bring down violence."

Eleven thousand shifts will be worked by police officers at the carnival over the course of the Bank Holiday Chief Inspector Edwards said.

Six people have already been arrested in a pre-carnival crackdown on crime Last year, two people were shot and there were several stabbings during the Notting Hill Carnival.