Notting Hill Carnival arrests: Met reports “far fewer” serious incidents
The Metropolitan Police says Notting Hill Carnival arrests this year came alongside “far fewer” serious incidents than in recent years. By Monday evening officers had made 423 arrests across two days. There were two stabbings; neither led to life-threatening injuries, the Met said.
Police recorded 223 arrests on Monday (adult parade) and 200 on Sunday. The most common offences were cannabis possession (70), possession of an offensive weapon (46) and drug supply (44). Officers also logged 18 sexual offences and five robberies. The two non-fatal stabbings were reported in Powis Terrace and Oxford Gardens.
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Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward said the use of live facial recognition, metal detectors and stop-and-search helped to prevent violence. The Met’s explainer on live facial recognition is here and official guidance on police stop-and-search powers is here. The force said 52 arrests over the two days followed identifications made through live facial recognition.
The approach remains contested. A coalition of civil liberties and anti-racism groups urged the Met to drop the cameras for Carnival, arguing the technology amounts to mass surveillance and may be less accurate for women and people of colour. Oversight and good-practice advice from the UK regulator can be found here.
Context matters. Notting Hill Carnival arrests totalled 334 last year, and there were two deaths – Cher Maximen, 32, and Mussie Imnetu, 41. In 2023 there were 308 arrests and eight stabbings. The Met argues visible policing plus targeted technology reduces the most serious harm; critics say community trust and civil liberties are at stake.
As evaluations begin, the headline is mixed but clear: serious violence fell, total Notting Hill Carnival arrests rose on last year, and the argument over surveillance at major public events will continue.
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[Image Credit | EPA via BBC News]
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