Police Deploy Drones at Notting Hill Carnival for the First Time in Major Safety Operation

For the first time in its history, police deployed a drone squadron to the Notting Hill Carnival, Europe’s largest street festival, in an effort to reduce crime and improve situational awareness during the two-day celebration in London. The event, which drew an estimated 2 million attendees, saw extensive security measures including drones, live facial recognition (LFR), knife arches, and stop-and-search powers. According to a report by The Times, police arrested 423 people at this year’s carnival, but said serious violence was lower compared with recent years.

Drone Surveillance with Thermal and Optical Imaging

British Transport Police (BTP) deployed drones equipped with high-definition thermal and optical cameras capable of identifying individuals from up to 80 meters (262 feet) away in both day and night conditions. A live feed from the aerial units was sent directly to ground officers to track incidents in real time, allowing for faster response times.

Chief Inspector Adam Swallow of the BTP explained:

“This year we’ve deployed a dedicated drone team to Notting Hill Carnival for the first time, there to provide our officers with critical situational awareness during live, emergency incidents and ensure we are able to respond as effectively as possible.”

The BTP coordinated with the Metropolitan Police, Network Rail, Transport for London (TfL), and the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure safe flight operations around rail corridors and crowded areas across the carnival footprint.

Live Facial Recognition and Expanded Stop-and-Search

Alongside drones, the Metropolitan Police deployed live facial recognition technology for the first time at the carnival since early trials in 2016 and 2017. Unlike drones, the LFR system was used only on approaches to the event — not inside festival grounds — to identify wanted suspects from a “watch list” of individuals linked to various offences.

The operation led to 13 arrests directly linked to LFR matches. Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward emphasized the effectiveness of the combined strategy, stating:

“We have proactively targeted those who have attempted to come to Carnival to cause harm to others… These arrests have prevented some of the serious violence we have seen at previous carnivals.”

More than 7,000 officers were deployed, with Section 60 stop-and-search powers in effect until 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday — enabling police to search individuals without prior grounds for suspicion.

Reduced Violence Compared with Previous Years

While the total number of arrests rose, senior officers stressed that the integrated policing operation helped prevent more serious crime. Only two non-fatal stabbings occurred this year, compared with incidents of fatal violence reported in 2023.

Last year’s carnival was “marred by unacceptable violence,” according to police, including the fatal stabbing of Cher Maximen, 32, and the assault leading to the death of Mussie Imnetu, 41. Their killers were sentenced earlier this year. In contrast, this year’s carnival saw a notable decrease in grave offences despite the huge crowds.

DroneXL’s Take

The deployment of drones at Notting Hill Carnival highlights the growing role of unmanned aerial systems in urban policing of large-scale public events. Thermal and optical payloads provided real-time intelligence that officers could act upon instantly, potentially preventing escalation in packed environments where visibility is limited.

Yet, the use of surveillance drones and live facial recognition technology also raises ongoing questions about civil liberties, data retention, and proportionality of surveillance in public gatherings. For drone professionals, this case underscores both the expanding operational role of drones in law enforcement and the need for clear regulatory frameworks and public trust.

Do you think drones are an essential safety measure at mass gatherings, or do they risk crossing into excessive surveillance? Share your perspective in the comments below.

Photos courtesy of BBC / X.