Hundreds arrested and weapons seized at Notting Hill Carnival

More than 550 people were arrested at Notting Hill Carnival, police have said, and one man died following a chase with officers who stopped him entering the event.

The annual Caribbean festival in west London was celebrating its 60th anniversary over the weekend, with the main parade taking place on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Metropolitan Police described the atmosphere as "overwhelmingly positive and celebratory" and said it "passed largely without incident".

However, as of Monday night, there had been 560 arrests over the course of the two-day event, and the Met said it expected that number to rise.

'Serious violence' down for second year

Some 48 of the arrests followed identification using live facial recognition, controversial technology which is being rolled out to forces across the country.

Stop and search was also used extensively, with a handgun among 62 weapons seized. There were still two knife attacks, though neither resulted in life-threatening injuries.

Commander Claire Smart, the Met's top cop for the carnival, said: "This is the second year now that we have seen a marked difference in the prevalence of serious violence."

She said this was down to "proactive policing" and collaboration with organisers, who she praised for taking on many event management and crowd safety roles previously performed by the police.

Man dies after entering canal

The Met also revealed details of a police chase which ended with a man dying after entering a canal.

Officers had attempted to stop the man, believed to be in his 20s, as he approached the event at around 3.20pm.

He fled on foot with officers in pursuit near Harrow Road and entered the water near Meanwhile Gardens.

Officers and members of the public pulled him from the water. He required medical attention, and paramedics were called before he was taken to a central London hospital. He was pronounced dead at around 4.45pm.

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Commander Smart said: "I acknowledge the efforts of the officers and members of the public who entered the canal to rescue this man. I know they will be devastated that his life couldn't ultimately be saved."

The incident will be investigated by the Indepedent Office for Police Conduct, she added.

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