Police made further arrests at Notting Hill Carnival on Monday after the Metropolitan Police confirmed that 243 people had been detained during the first full day of the event.
Officers were seen carrying out searches and leading revellers away in handcuffs as the carnival entered its traditional “adults’ day”, when crowds are larger, sound systems louder and alcohol consumption more widespread.
The arrests made on Sunday included allegations involving drugs, weapons, assaults on members of the emergency services and sexual offences. The Met said 97 people were arrested on the approaches to the carnival, with the remainder detained inside the event area.
Two knife attacks were also reported on the opening day. One person suffered a slash to the leg and another was cut on the hand, although neither injury was considered life-changing.
The 60th anniversary carnival has been subject to one of the largest policing operations in its history, with more than 7,000 officers and 3,000 security stewards deployed across west London.
Metal detectors have been installed around the perimeter and the Met has imposed a Section 60 order, giving officers additional powers to stop and search people without needing reasonable suspicion that they are carrying drugs or weapons.
Live facial recognition has also been used as part of the operation. Police said 61 arrests were linked to identifications made using the technology, which was deployed at access points and on routes leading to the festival.
Police operation at Notting Hill Carnival
The Met said its wider use of facial recognition had also enabled officers to identify 26 registered sex offenders, all of whom were spoken to about compliance with any restrictions imposed on them. Three were arrested for allegedly breaching those conditions.
Commander Claire Smart, the gold commander for the carnival operation, said the event had been “overwhelmingly positive and celebratory” despite the number of arrests.
“Our message is simple: come and enjoy Carnival, look after one another, respect the event, the communities hosting it and the police officers, stewards and other emergency services working to keep people safe,” she said.
“But if you’re coming to commit crime, to target others or to engage in violence – stay away or know that we will be work relentlessly to identify you and take action.”
Before the carnival, police raids led to the seizure of 76 zombie knives, 30 flick knives and a machete. A joint operation with Greater Manchester Police also resulted in seven arrests on suspicion of planning robberies at the event.
Some 330 people have been prevented from attending under bail conditions imposed after they were arrested on suspicion of other offences.
Despite the heavy security presence, revellers gathered in large numbers across Notting Hill, with some climbing on bus stops and fences near the railway. Others were seen completing their costumes at Underground stations before making their way towards the carnival.
Transport for London warned that stations around the event would be heavily congested, with Ladbroke Grove closed throughout the day and several other stations operating exit-only arrangements or temporary restrictions to manage crowds.
Notting Hill Gate was due to operate without entry between 11am and 6pm, while Queensway was also exit-only during those hours. TfL advised visitors to use Paddington and walk to the event, and warned that the Night Tube and Night Overground would not run on Monday night.
The carnival, which attracts millions of visitors, is estimated to contribute almost £400 million to the wider economy. The Mayor of London provided an additional £4.66 million in funding this year, on top of almost £1 million already committed, to support stewarding, crowd management and security improvements.
The event has nevertheless faced mounting scrutiny over the cost of policing and the level of violence and drug-related offending reported in recent years. The Metropolitan Police operation cost £15.7 million last year, while Kensington and Chelsea Council has estimated its own staffing and clean-up bill at about £1 million.
