This year’s Notting Hill Carnival experienced a marked decrease in serious violence, attributed to targeted police interventions including live facial recognition technology, knife arches, and community engagement, marking a safer celebration than previous years.
This year’s Notting Hill Carnival has seen a notable reduction in serious violence compared to recent years, according to the Metropolitan Police. Over the two main days of the event, police arrested 423 individuals, including 46 for possession of offensive weapons. Among these arrests, 52 were made possible through the use of live facial recognition (LFR) technology deployed on approaches to and from the carnival. The force described the event as “far safer” than in previous years, with just two reported stabbings – one in Powis Terrace and another in Oxford Gardens – neither of which resulted in life-threatening injuries.
The police credited a combination of proactive measures for this marked improvement in safety. Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward, overseeing the carnival’s policing, highlighted that targeted efforts to identify and arrest those planning violence played a key role. These efforts incorporated live facial recognition technology, knife arches at entry points, and stop and search powers, which collectively helped to prevent some of the serious incidents witnessed at past carnivals. The Metropolitan Police also expressed appreciation for the organisers and community voices urging attendees to reject violence and avoid conflict, which they said contributed to the more peaceful atmosphere this year.
Ahead of the carnival, the Metropolitan Police undertook extensive intelligence-led interventions, arresting 100 individuals and seizing a significant cache of weapons, including 11 firearms and over 40 knives. Additionally, the police recalled 21 people to prison and imposed conditions on 266 others to prevent their attendance at the event. These strategic moves aimed to disrupt those posing the greatest risks to public safety, bolstering security ahead of the festivities.
The use of live facial recognition has been a subject of controversy in previous years, with concerns raised about its accuracy and potential bias against women and people of colour. However, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley stated that the technology had “significantly improved” since earlier deployments and emphasised that it would be used without bias at the carnival. This reassurance came amid wider debates around privacy and mass surveillance, yet police maintain the technology’s role in identifying suspects early and reducing violence.
Last year’s carnival was marked by tragedy, including the fatal stabbing of 32-year-old Cher Maximen in front of her young daughter, and the death of Dubai-based chef Mussie Imnetu following an attack. Both cases resulted in convictions, and this year’s intensified policing efforts were seen by many as a necessary response to prevent a repeat of such events.
While the police report that the event remains ongoing and they are maintaining vigilance, early indications portray the 2023 Notting Hill Carnival as a safer celebration, with fewer violent incidents and most attendees able to enjoy the cultural festivities without disruption.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/far-fewer-violent-incidents-at-this-years-notting-hill-carnival-police-say/a85547074.html – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/metropolitan-police-london-brazilian-african-scotland-yard-b1244408.html – The Standard reports that the 2023 Notting Hill Carnival experienced significantly fewer serious violent incidents compared to previous years. The Metropolitan Police recorded 423 arrests over the two main days, including 46 for possession of an offensive weapon. There were two stabbings, one in Powis Terrace and one in Oxford Gardens, but neither resulted in life-threatening injuries. The police utilised live facial recognition technology to identify suspects before the streets became crowded, leading to 52 arrests based on this method. The event was largely peaceful, with the majority of attendees enjoying the festivities without incident.
- https://news.met.police.uk/news/notting-hill-carnival-update-on-incidents-and-arrests-487332 – The Metropolitan Police provided an update on the 2023 Notting Hill Carnival, detailing the number of incidents and arrests. Over the two days, there were 61 assaults on police officers and eight stabbings. The arrests included 72 for possession of an offensive weapon, 53 for assaults on emergency workers, and 13 for sexual offences. The police highlighted the challenges of policing such a large event but commended the efforts of officers and organisers in maintaining safety.
- https://news.sky.com/story/face-recognition-tech-will-be-used-without-bias-at-festival-met-boss-says-13414828 – Sky News reports that the Metropolitan Police chief, Sir Mark Rowley, stated that live facial recognition technology deployed at the 2023 Notting Hill Carnival has ‘significantly improved’ from previous years and will be used without bias. The technology aims to help locate dangerous individuals attending the carnival over the August bank holiday weekend. Concerns had been raised by several groups about the potential for mass surveillance and racial bias, but the police chief reassured that the technology would be used responsibly.
- https://news.sky.com/story/100-arrests-ahead-of-notting-hill-carnival-in-intelligence-led-interventions-met-police-say-13416112 – Sky News reports that the Metropolitan Police arrested 100 people and seized dozens of weapons ahead of the 2023 Notting Hill Carnival as part of ‘intelligence-led interventions’. Officers seized 11 firearms and more than 40 knives, aiming to disrupt and deter those posing the greatest risk to public safety at the event. The police also recalled 21 individuals to prison and imposed conditions on 266 others to prevent them from attending the carnival.
- https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/metropolitan-police-scotland-yard-dubai-london-b1244408.html – The Standard reports that the 2023 Notting Hill Carnival saw far fewer incidents of serious violence than in recent years, according to the Metropolitan Police. There were 423 arrests over the two main days, including 46 for possession of an offensive weapon. Two stabbings occurred, one in Powis Terrace and one in Oxford Gardens, but neither resulted in life-threatening injuries. The police utilised live facial recognition technology, leading to 52 arrests based on this method. The event was largely peaceful, with the majority of attendees enjoying the festivities without incident.
- https://news.sky.com/story/100-arrests-ahead-of-notting-hill-carnival-in-intelligence-led-interventions-met-police-say-13416112 – Sky News reports that the Metropolitan Police arrested 100 people and seized dozens of weapons ahead of the 2023 Notting Hill Carnival as part of ‘intelligence-led interventions’. Officers seized 11 firearms and more than 40 knives, aiming to disrupt and deter those posing the greatest risk to public safety at the event. The police also recalled 21 individuals to prison and imposed conditions on 266 others to prevent them from attending the carnival.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is recent, dated August 25, 2025. Similar reports from August 2024 mention 349 arrests and 61 assaults on police officers. ([news.met.police.uk](https://news.met.police.uk/news/notting-hill-carnival-update-on-incidents-and-arrests-487332?utm_source=openai)) The 2025 report indicates 423 arrests and 52 identifications using live facial recognition, suggesting an increase in arrests and the introduction of new technology. The use of live facial recognition at the 2025 carnival is a notable development. ([news.sky.com](https://news.sky.com/story/face-recognition-tech-will-be-used-without-bias-at-festival-met-boss-says-13414828?utm_source=openai)) The presence of multiple reputable sources reporting similar information supports the freshness of the content. ([standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/metropolitan-police-scotland-yard-dubai-london-b1244408.html?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
Direct quotes from Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward and Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley are consistent with their statements in previous reports. ([standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/metropolitan-police-scotland-yard-dubai-london-b1244408.html?utm_source=openai)) No significant variations in wording were found, indicating the quotes are reused.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Belfast Telegraph, a reputable news outlet. The Metropolitan Police’s official statements and data are also cited, enhancing the reliability of the information.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The reported decrease in violent incidents aligns with the Metropolitan Police’s stated efforts to enhance safety at the carnival. ([news.met.police.uk](https://news.met.police.uk/news/met-sets-out-policing-approach-ahead-of-notting-hill-carnival-487224?utm_source=openai)) The introduction of live facial recognition technology is a plausible development, given the Met’s previous use of such technology. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/aug/05/met-police-facial-recognition-software-notting-hill-carnival?utm_source=openai)) The consistency of the data with previous years’ reports supports the plausibility of the claims.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is recent and aligns with official reports from the Metropolitan Police. The use of live facial recognition technology at the 2025 Notting Hill Carnival is a notable development. The quotes are consistent with previous statements, and the source is reputable. The reported decrease in violent incidents is plausible and supported by the data.
