This year’s Notting Hill Carnival saw 423 arrests and two stabbings, but far fewer incidents of serious violence than in recent years, the Metropolitan Police said.
Around a million revellers flocked to Notting Hill this bank holiday weekend, many dressed in vibrant costumes and donning feathered headdresses, sequins, and Caribbean flags, for the return of Europe’s biggest street party.
Crowds lined the streets of Notting Hill as dancers paraded through the area, with music and community spirit on full display throughout the two-day celebration.
Sunday was dedicated to families, with the Children’s Day Parade creating a more relaxed atmosphere. On Monday, the Carnival reached its peak, featuring large sound systems and elaborate floats.
Despite a heavy police presence and a number of arrests, including two non-life threatening stabbings, police said there had been “far fewer incidents of serious violence” compared to recent years.
Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward, the policing commander for Notting Hill Carnival, said: "This year we have proactively targeted those who have attempted to come to carnival to cause harm to others.
"We have used live facial recognition, knife arches and our stop and search powers to identify and arrest more than 400 suspects.
"These arrests have prevented some of the serious violence we have seen at previous carnivals.
"We thank the organisers and others who spoke out in the days and weeks ahead of the event to emphasise what carnival stands for, to reject violence and to urge anyone planning to come for conflict or confrontation to stay at home.
"All of this joint effort has helped to make this this year's carnival a safer event for all."
As of 7.45pm on Monday, the number of arrests was 223, with 177 at Carnival itself and 46 on the approaches to the event.
The number of arrests on Sunday was 200, with 149 at Carnival itself and 51 on the approaches to the event.
Fifty-two of the total arrests were as a result of identifications using Live Facial Recognition (LFR), police said.
The technology uses drones that can identify individuals from up to 80m (260ft) away, which then feed images to officers.
Police said there have been two stabbings – one in Powis Terrace and one in Oxford Gardens – neither of which resulted in life-threatening injuries.
Thirty-two people were arrested for assaults on police, and 46 were taken into custody for possession of offensive weapons.
Meanwhile, 70 individuals were arrested for cannabis possession, 32 for possession of Class A drugs, and 44 for drug supply.
Five arrests were made in connection with robbery, while eighteen people were arrested for sexual offences.
The Met said a final update on the total number of arrests will be published on Tuesday.
In addition, British Transport Police (BTP) said they had made 13 arrests on Sunday and 17 on Monday in an operation that involved an increase in uniformed officers across the network and a dedicated drone team.
BTP assistant chief constable Sean O'Callaghan said: “The vast majority of people came together to enjoy the celebration and I am pleased to say the weekend passed without any serious incidents on the railway network.”
About 7,000 officers were deployed across the capital over the bank holiday weekend to police the annual extravaganza.
At last year's event, Cher Maximen, 32, died after being stabbed in front of her three-year-old daughter on the Sunday.
Mussie Imnetu, 41, a Dubai-based chef, sustained head injuries in an attack after the event.
They both died in hospital and their killers were jailed this year.
A Notting Hill Carnival spokesperson said: "The rise in arrests at Notting Hill Carnival 2025 was the result of a successful, proactive police operation.
"We worked with the Metropolitan Police to free them up to concentrate on crime prevention, by taking more of the crowd management responsibility.
"Arrests still represent a vanishingly small number of those who attended a fantastic event. This community put on a spectacle revered the world over and attended by up to two million people who enjoy the sights, sounds, tastes and smells for themselves.
"Carnival generates incredible community and joy, which we cannot put a price on."
Londoners of all ages took to the streets over the weekend as groups of performers included Bajan Raw Licquer, Mahogany, Chocolate Nation, Mas Africa, Vincy Alliance and United Kreyol, which reflect traditions from Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, St Lucia, Grenada, Jamaica, Dominica and Haiti.
Brazilian performers from Paraiso Samba School, Batala and Dende Nation added to the line-up, alongside long-established UK community bands.
Streets in the west London community were awash with colour as J’Ouvert – which means “daybreak” in French Creole – marked the start of the celebrations over the Bank Holiday weekend.
The opening event kicked off at 6am and saw people cover each other in paint, coloured powder and chocolate.
Fast-paced drumming could be heard and felt before the first parade arrived, decorating the street with flutes, brass instruments, steel drums, dancers and costumes including giant colourful wings.
Festival chairman Ian Comfort told attendees on Sunday morning he was pleased the carnival was happening after its future was in jeopardy following funding challenges earlier this year.
A review looking into crowd control at the carnival earlier this year, which was supported by the Met Police, found more funding was needed to safely hold the event in 2025.
Although organisers pleaded with the Government for support with additional funding requirements, they made the decision not to provide any financial support to this year’s event.
Emergency funding was provided by Kensington and Chelsea council, Westminster City Council and the Greater London Authority to ensure safety recommendations could be met for the event.
On both days of the carnival, a 72-second silence took place at 3pm to remember the people who lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire, as well people who have lost their lives at Carnival in recent years.
Cher Maximen, 32, was stabbed with a zombie knife at the event in 2024, when a fight between a group of men broke out next to her. She died six days later in hospital.
Chef Mussie Imnetu, who had worked under chefs including Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing, died in hospital four days after he was attacked in the street near the event.
On Monday, Kensington and Chelsea Council said an estimated 150 tonnes of rubbish was cleared after the first day of festivities.
The council expects 300 tonnes to be collected over the weekend, with 180 staff and 45 vehicles working overnight.
The clean-up continued on Monday night to prepare the area for normal business on Tuesday morning.
