Notting Hill Carnival Chaos: Over 600 Arrested, One Man Dead After Fleeing Police Into a Canal

The chaos surrounding the annual Notting Hill Carnival continues, with police recording over 600 arrests since the start of this year's event. Furthermore, an unidentified man believed to be in his 20s has died after entering a canal while fleeing police during the festival.

Met Police Commander Claire Smart said, 'Any death following contact with the police is passed to the Independent Office for Police Conduct so the circumstances can be fully investigated.' Commander Smart proceeded to discourage the public from speculating during the investigation surrounding the man's death.

The force deployed over 7,000 police officers across the bank holiday weekend as millions of people descended on west London for the annual celebration of Caribbean culture, music and community.

Over 600 Arrests Made

The man's death came alongside hundreds of arrests for different types of offences during the carnival's 60th anniversary celebrations. Attendees were arrested in connection with possession of drugs and weapons, sexual offences, and assaults, including attacks on emergency workers.

The Met also reported two knife assaults: one stabbing and one slashing, neither of which resulted in life-threatening injuries.

The final confirmed number of arrests has risen to 636, comprising 242 on Sunday, 30 August, and 394 on Monday. Of the 636 arrests, 193 were made on approaches to the event, with the remainder taking place within the carnival area.

Police also recovered 68 weapons, including a handgun, through stop-and-search operations during the event. A Section 60 order was also in place under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, giving officers additional search powers to find weapons without the usual requirement for reasonable suspicion.

Live facial recognition technology was also deployed, leading to 121 arrests and allowing officers to stop and speak to 86 registered sex offenders. Seven were arrested for allegedly breaching their conditions or notification requirements.

Man Dies After Entering Canal While Fleeing Police

Police attempted to stop the man at approximately 3:19 PM on Monday, 31 August as he approached the carnival area in west London. The man reportedly fled on foot before entering the canal near Meanwhile Gardens, where festival attendees and officers attempted to rescue him.

The man was eventually pulled from the canal and given CPR before being taken to a central London hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The IOPC is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, and Commander Smart has urged people not to speculate while the investigation is ongoing.

A Reduction in Serious Violence

Despite the large number of arrests, police said the overall atmosphere at this year's carnival was 'overwhelmingly positive and celebratory.'

Commander Claire Smart said officers had seen a marked reduction in serious violence for the second consecutive year, attributing the improvement to targeted policing and closer cooperation with event organisers.

In a statement issued ahead of the carnival, Smart urged revellers to 'come and enjoy Carnival' while warning those intending to commit crimes or engage in violence to stay away.

The carnival remains one of Britain's biggest annual street festivals, drawing huge crowds to Notting Hill every August Bank Holiday weekend. However, the festivities were overshadowed by the death during the final day of the carnival.