140 Arrested on First Day of Notting Hill Carnival as Crowds Celebrate Safely
The first day of the iconic Notting Hill Carnival saw 140 arrests, but for the vast majority, the festival went off without a hitch.
The Metropolitan Police reported a mix of offences, ranging from assaults to drug-related incidents, as hundreds of thousands of revellers took to the streets of W10 on Sunday, August 24.
Among the arrests, 15 involved assaults on police officers, and 21 were for possession of offensive weapons. One officer was taken to hospital after sustaining hand injuries. Overall, arrests were higher than last year’s 104 on the same day, but the celebrations remained largely peaceful.
Police emphasised that most attendees come to enjoy the festival and soak up the vibrant atmosphere of Caribbean culture.
Commander Charmain Brenyah, the Met’s spokesperson for Carnival, said: “We expect around one million people to be on the streets of west London for what is one of the most significant weekends in the capital’s cultural calendar.
The vast majority come to have fun and enjoy themselves, to celebrate Caribbean culture, to dance, to eat and to go home with nothing but good memories.
Regrettably, we know a minority come with less positive intentions and in recent years this has played out in the form of serious violenc,e including three tragic incidents where lives have been taken.
The actions of this minority are totally at odds with the values of those who care passionately about Carnival and we acknowledge those, including the event organisers, who have stood up to condemn violence and serious criminality in the run up to this weekend.
Our policing plan makes tackling serious violence a priority which is why we’ve carried out intelligence-led interventions against those groups and individuals who we have reason to believe pose the greatest risk to the safety of other Carnival-goers.
We hope that this police activity will be a significant deterrent for those who otherwise might have been planning to come and engage in violence and other criminality.
During the event, we will have officers deployed in significant numbers to deal with incidents and where possible, to intervene before they happen.
They will be aided by technology including a network of CCTV cameras, screening arches and live facial recognition cameras deployed on the routes to and from Carnival. We are also considering the use of additional search powers to take dangerous weapons off the streets.”
Arrest Breakdown:
- Assault on police: 15
- Possession of offensive weapon: 21
- Possession of cannabis: 25
- Possession of Class A drugs: 6
- Possession of other drugs: 2
- Possession with intent to supply drugs: 19
- Robbery: 2
- Public order offences: 4
- Sexual offences: 4
- Other offences: 42
On the first day of Notting Hill Carnival, 140 arrests were made, on top of the 100 before it even began.
Arrests for assaults on police, carrying offensive weapons, and sexual assault. Yet Sadiq Khan calls it “the best of our city.”
As a Londoner, I’ve had enough. Ban it. pic.twitter.com/brFBcVu9xz
— Nicholas Lissack (@NicholasLissack) August 24, 2025
By 7.45pm, 105 arrests had been made within the Carnival zone itself. A further 35 arrests occurred on the approaches to the area, 13 of which were the result of live facial recognition identifications.
No major incidents were reported on the first day, a notable improvement compared with last year when two people tragically lost their lives, and eight others were stabbed.
Despite heightened security, the atmosphere remained electric, with street parades, live music, and vibrant costumes drawing thousands.
The Notting Hill Carnival continues on Monday, August 25. Key events include:
- Adult’s Parade: from 10.30am
- Sound Systems: 12pm – 7pm
- Live Stages: 12pm – 7pm
- Moment of Reflection: 3pm
Authorities are urging visitors to plan their journey, stay safe, and enjoy the cultural spectacle.
This year, the carnival blends tradition with technology, using CCTV and facial recognition to maintain order while allowing the streets of west London to buzz with the music, dance, and energy that make Notting Hill Carnival one of the city’s most celebrated events.
