5,500 police are on duty, with another 4,000 on stand-by, the Notting Hill Carnival will have more security than the Royal Wedding.<br /><br />Coming so soon after the London riots, this year's annual street party takes place under real scrutiny.<br /><br />Starting in the 1960s soon after West Indians started arriving in London, the neighbourhood has seen a change from poor and run-down to an area with booming property prices and gentrification.<br /><br />For some, Carnival's image has always been painted in a negative light by mainstream media, who tend to ignore the positives the street party brings as well. "It's a great celebration of culture and multiculturalism and it's unfortunate that it's reported on in terms of crime," said Ishmail Blagrove, the Exhibition organizer.<br /><br />Al Jazeera's correspondent Simon McGregor-Wood reports from London.
