Cannabis arrests at Carnival were noticeably higher…

During the August bank-holiday weekend 2025, Notting Hill Carnival draws up to 2 million people across two days

(Sunday’s family day and Monday’s parade),

making it Europe’s largest street festival. Rooted in Caribbean heritage,

it’s a celebration of culture, music, resistance, and community spirit.

This year, policing was heavier than ever. Around 7,000 officers were deployed, supported by knife arches, drones, stop-and-search powers,

and live facial recognition (LFR) technology.

According to the Met Police, there were 423 arrests across the two days:

200 on Sunday

223 on Monday (as of 19:45)

Breaking these numbers down further:

70 arrests for cannabis possession

32 arrests for Class A drugs

44 arrests for drug supply

46 arrests for offensive weapons

28 arrests related to violence and sexual offences

Police officials described the weekend as a net positive, pointing out that there were “far fewer serious violent incidents” compared to previous years. Only two non-life-threatening stabbings were reported — a sharp drop after the tragedies of 2024.

Still, cannabis stood out as the single largest category of arrests.

For decades, Carnival has been synonymous with the unmistakable haze of cannabis smoke — often tolerated by officers.

This year, however, the numbers suggest a clear shift: zero tolerance enforcement.

The wider debate goes beyond cannabis.

Civil liberties groups questioned the use of LFR technology, especially when cameras were deployed outside the Carnival footprint.

Critics argue it represents an expansion of surveillance at the expense of trust and community relations.

Police, meanwhile, insist these tools helped prevent escalation and kept the event safer.

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Why This Matters

Culture vs. Control: Carnival remains a symbol of freedom and resistance, but the growing scale of enforcement raises questions about whether policing is overshadowing the spirit of the festival.

Surveillance and Trust: From drones to facial recognition, how far is too far when it comes to crowd control?

Legacy and Future: Despite the tension, Carnival’s survival and growth remain vital. It is one of the UK’s most important cultural events — not just for the Caribbean community but for London and the nation as a whole.

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Carnival 2025 proved safer in terms of violent incidents, but also marked a turning point. The conversation is no longer just about celebration — it’s about surveillance, culture, and the future of one of Britain’s most important traditions.