Two people were stabbed during the Notting Hill Carnival this year, a significant decrease in serious violence compared to previous years, according to the Metropolitan Police. Despite a 21 percent increase in the total number of arrests—423 across the two days, the highest figure since 2019—no life-threatening injuries were reported from the stabbings. Last year’s event saw two murders and eight stabbings, underscoring the relative improvement in safety this time around.

The Met Police attributed the reduction in serious violent incidents to a robust policing strategy. This included the deployment of live facial recognition technology, knife arches, and extensive stop-and-search operations, which helped identify and arrest more than 400 suspects, including those with outstanding warrants or wanted for serious offences. Among the arrests were 32 for assaulting police officers, 46 for possession of offensive weapons, five for robbery, and 18 for sexual offences. Over the two days, 52 arrests were made following interventions linked to facial recognition cameras. Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward emphasised the proactive targeting of individuals intent on causing harm, which he said had prevented some of the serious violence seen in previous years.

Ahead of the carnival, the Metropolitan Police had already stepped up efforts to deter trouble, making 100 arrests and seizing dozens of weapons, including firearms and knives, as part of intelligence-led enforcement. They also imposed conditions on 266 individuals to prevent them from attending the event. The force deployed some 7,000 officers to manage the crowd, which numbered approximately one million people over the two days, making it one of Europe’s largest street festivals celebrating Caribbean culture.

Notting Hill Carnival, which began in 1966, transforms west London with vibrant parades, colorful costumes, and musical performances reflecting Caribbean traditions. This year’s celebrations paid homage to the Windrush generation, with participants from various Caribbean nations and Brazilian performers contributing to the festivities amid sunny weather and temperatures reaching 26°C.

The atmosphere on the second day appeared lively, despite some moments of tension. Police made numerous arrests, including a notable incident where a young woman was detained after allegedly throwing a glass bottle at officers. Viral social media footage showed isolated clashes and disorder, but overall, the event avoided a repeat of the bloodshed that had marred previous years. The absence of stabbings on the Sunday marked an improvement over last year, when three stabbings occurred on the first day alone.

The use of live facial recognition technology has been defended by the Met Police as a significantly improved and non-biased tool this year. The technology was integral to identifying individuals on a watchlist of over 16,000 persons of interest and was part of the force’s efforts to maintain safety and order. However, this has drawn criticism from civil liberties groups concerned about potential mass surveillance and discrimination.

Meanwhile, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan focused his public comments on the festival’s cultural significance and positive impact, describing the carnival as a vibrant display of music, joy, and unity in the city.

In total, the policing operation balanced a heightened security presence with the celebration’s festive spirit, managing to reduce serious violent incidents while supporting a large-scale cultural event that draws diverse crowds every year.

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Source: Noah Wire Services