This year’s Notting Hill Carnival saw a notable reduction in serious violence compared with recent years, according to the Metropolitan Police. The two-day event resulted in 423 arrests, with 223 arrests recorded on the day of the adult parade alone. Despite the large crowd, only two stabbings were reported, neither of which caused serious injury. This marks a significant improvement from previous years, where multiple stabbings and fatalities had cast a shadow over the festivities.

The Metropolitan Police attributed this reduction in violence in part to the use of advanced security measures, including live facial recognition (LFR) technology, metal detectors, and stop-and-search operations. Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward, who led policing at the event, stated that these measures proactively targeted individuals seeking to cause harm. According to police records, 52 arrests over the weekend were directly made through LFR identifications, highlighting its growing role in maintaining public safety at mass gatherings.

The use of live facial recognition at the carnival, however, remains controversial. Civil liberty and anti-racism groups have criticised the technology as a form of mass surveillance that unfairly targets all attendees as potential suspects, particularly raising concerns about its accuracy for women and people of colour. In a letter to Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, 11 organisations condemned the decision to reintroduce LFR, describing it as “deeply disappointing.” The Metropolitan Police maintain, however, that the technology’s accuracy is balanced across ethnicity and gender, and that it plays a key part in crime prevention.

Looking at the nature of offences, the majority of arrests were related to cannabis possession, offensive weapons, and drug supply. Specifically, 70 people were arrested for cannabis possession, 46 for carrying weapons, and 44 for drug dealing. Additionally, 18 sexual offences and five robberies were recorded during the event. The two stabbings occurred in Powis Terrace and Oxford Gardens, areas within Notting Hill. The police’s data for the year also reflects ongoing challenges in managing large-scale gatherings but points towards an overall downward trend in serious violent incidents.

Last year’s carnival was notably more violent, with eight stabbings resulting in two deaths, including the tragic killing of Cher Maximen, who was fatally stabbed with a zombie knife in front of her child. The 2023 event saw a higher number of arrests—334—with numerous incidents of serious injuries, marking the year as particularly challenging for law enforcement. The contrast between the two years suggests that the recent enhanced policing strategies may be beginning to bear fruit.

The Notting Hill Carnival is one of London’s largest cultural celebrations, attracting close to a million people annually. While efforts to ensure safety often face criticism for perceived heavy-handedness, organisers and the police alike emphasise the importance of maintaining an environment where attendees can celebrate without fear. The 2024 festival, despite its relative improvement in violence figures, still saw significant law enforcement activity, reflecting the complexities of managing such a vibrant and diverse event.

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Source: Noah Wire Services