Notting Hill Carnival turns 60 with arrests down

The Notting Hill Carnival turns 60 under the banner of "an extremely positive and festive atmosphere" on the streets of the neighbourhood, as underlined by the London police: the number of arrests made so far - 169 - is generally lower than those of previous years. The traditional festival of the Caribbean community, not immune to episodes of violence every year, attracted millions of people, including many tourists, to attend the highlight of the day with the colorful costume parades, dancing and music. “The result of the proactive approach is a reduction in serious violence compared to previous years,” Commander Claire Smart, head of the police operation, said in a statement from Scotland Yard, which deployed more than 7,000 officers. In 2025 there were 528 arrests and 334 in 2024: the initial balance seems to confirm a decline for the largest street party in Europe, while awaiting the overall data which also includes the arrests made today, a public holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.