A man has been jailed after police seized a loaded Glock pistol he had stashed in a bum bag as he attended the Notting Hill Carnival.
Jade Charles, 35, had been carrying the weapon around the event among huge crowds on what is known as ‘Children’s Day’ because it is aimed at attracting families.
Charles, from Queen’s Park, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition at Southwark Crown Court in September 2023. He was brought to justice after a joint investigation by the Met and City of London police.
Charles was sentenced to five years at the same court on Friday.
Detective Constable Andrew Payne, the investigating officer from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “The loaded firearm in Charles’ possession put innocent members of the public at risk on what is known as ‘Children’s Day’ at Carnival.
” It’s recovery has no doubt prevented it from being used to commit violent offences on our streets.”
The court had heard how On 27 August 2023 officers working on the security operation observed a man via CCTV on Ashmore Road leaving a bum-bag at the location, which they deemed suspicious.
Officers from the City of London Police were deployed and they found a Glock pistol with ammunition in the bag. After identifying Charles as the owner he was arrested nearby and taken into custody.
DC Payne added: ” This was an excellent example of officers painstakingly viewing live images looking for things that are suspicious and reading body language, and in this case it has led to lives potentially being saved.”
Children’s Day is traditionally the middle Sunday of the three day event.
