Arrest rates were twice as high at Notting Hill Carnival than the Unite the Kingdom march, figures suggest. 

Twenty-four demonstrators were detained as tensions flared during what is thought to be the largest Right-wing rally in British history on Saturday. 

Around 150,000 demonstrators, many adorned in St George’s flags, caused widespread disruption in London as they paraded through the city, demanding urgent action on the escalating migrant situation.

Police reported encountering ‘unacceptable violence’ while attempting to manage the Tommy Robinson-organized rally, utilizing batons and restraining participants on the ground.

If the Metropolitan Police’s attendance estimates are correct, it means around one in every 6,250 attendees were arrested – or 1.6 in every 10,000.

Police did not confirm what anyone was arrested for, however they said many of the attendees were ‘intent on violence’. 

Officers were subjected to being kicked, punched, and targeted with thrown bottles, flares, and other objects. Twenty-six officers sustained injuries, which included broken teeth, a potential broken nose, a concussion, a slipped disc, and a head trauma.

In comparison, there were 423 arrests over the two days of Notting Hill Carnival last month. 

Twenty-four demonstrators were detained as tensions flared during what is thought to be the largest Right-wing rally in British history on Saturday

There were 423 arrests over the two days of Notting Hill Carnival last month 

Attended by over a million people, that equated to one in every 2,364 partygoers, or 4.3 in every 10,000, being arrested. 

However, the attendance estimate for Notting Hill Carnival – by far Europe’s biggest street party – is also disputed.

This apparent disparity in the number of arrests made at the two events occurred despite several politicians denouncing the Right-wing march.

Keir Starmer wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter,: ‘People have a right to peaceful protest. It is core to our country’s values. 

‘However, we will not tolerate attacks on police officers performing their duties or allow individuals to feel threatened in our streets due to their background or skin color.

‘Britain is a nation proudly built on tolerance, diversity and respect.

‘Our flag represents our diverse country and we will never surrender it to those that use it as a symbol of violence, fear and division.’

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood also criticized the violent incidents and pledged that anyone involved in illegal activities will be met with the full extent of the law.

Tommy Robinson (right) seen carrying a banner alongside Katie Hopkins (centre) and former actor Laurence Fox (left)

Clashes between police and protesters broke out after a crush near Westminster Bridge on Saturday

Pictured: A demonstrator stands on the head of the South Bank lion that sits on the side of Westminster Bridge 

Patriots cross Westminster bridge holding aloft Union Flags during the rally on Saturday

A huge policing operation was needed in central London with the Met deploying 1,000 officers and drafting in an additional 500 from forces across the country, including Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Devon and Cornwall.

The Met said the arrests they made so far were ‘just the start’.

Matt Twist, assistant commissioner at the Met, said: ‘There is no doubt that many came to exercise their lawful right to protest, but there were many who came intent on violence.

‘They confronted officers, engaging in physical and verbal abuse and making a determined effort to breach cordons in place to keep everyone safe.

‘The violence they faced was wholly unacceptable.

‘The 25 arrests we have made so far is just the start. Our post-event investigation has already begun – we are identifying those who were involved in the disorder and they can expect to face robust police action in the coming days and weeks.’

At Notting Hill Carnival, the Met deployed an army of black-clad police officers to line the streets to keep order at the festival, which has become increasingly linked with violence and disorder.

Police also put up knife arches to detect weapons at the busiest entry points and used live facial recognition cameras to locate people on watch lists.

An army of black-clad police officers lined the streets for Notting Hill Carnival after the festival had recently been linked with violence and disorder

This year at Notting Hill Carnival, police put up knife arches to detect weapons at the busiest entry points and used live facial recognition cameras to locate people on watch lists

No such technology was in use at the Unite the Kingdom march, which began near Waterloo Bridge before making their way to the southern end of Whitehall.

The organiser of Saturday’s march, anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim activist Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, claimed on X that there were ‘three million patriots’.

He attacked news outlets for reporting the police estimate of between 110,000 and 150,000, claiming the ‘legacy media is proving again they’ll just lie to your face for their own agenda’ and that ‘this is why nobody trusts them’.

A counter-protest organised by group Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) was also formed by around 5,000 people, according to official Met Police figures.

Police rejected the three million claim as impossible, citing the capital’s infrastructure. 

A Met spokesperson said: ‘We had 1,000 officers on duty managing routes, and our counts are based on real-time monitoring.’

The historic benchmark of large London protests is the 2003 anti-Iraq War march, which drew 1.5million.

When asked about the 26 police officers who were injured at the march on Saturday, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said it was ‘horrendous’. 

Knife arches were seen being set up by police in the lead up to Notting Hill Carnival

Workers boarded up pubs on Ladbroke Grove before the start of Notting Hill Carnival 

He said: ‘People will say it is not as bad as Notting Hill, not as bad as other demonstrations, but it is horrible, it is bad.

‘I feared something like that would happen. There is no defence of the use of violence that some people used on Saturday. 

‘But I do repeat, the vast majority of people who caught the train to London that day were good, ordinary, decent people.’  

Meanwhile, as Notting Hill Carnival is a free and non-ticketed event sprawling across an entire neighbourhood, it is also difficult to put an exact figure on attendance. 

Most have the figure at around one to two million people over the course of the two-day event, which takes place on a Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday in late August.

This year’s celebrations involved widespread disregard for the law, with men seen dancing on top of a bus stop and urinating in the streets.

Shopkeepers have grown weary of the festival, with stores along major routes having to board up their windows in preparation for any crime and disorder. 

One shopkeeper who was forced to close said: ‘I dread it each year. It’s hell. I’m bracing myself for mayhem.’ 

The Met Police said they were obliged to use force after Unite The Kingdom protesters attempted to breach the cordon separating them from counter-protesters

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood posted on X that ‘the right to peaceful protest is fundamental to this nation’ but that those who assaulted police officers or took part in criminal activity ‘will face the full force of the law’ 

London mayor Sadiq Khan thanked Met officers for policing the protest and described the violence against them as ‘completely unacceptable’ 

This year, there were two stabbings, but the Met said neither led to serious injury. 

However last year eight people were stabbed, leaving one person dead, while another person was killed in a separate attack.

The most common reasons for arrest were for cannabis possession, possession of an offensive weapon, and drug supply.

The Met said 52 of the arrests over the two days were the result of identifications using live facial recognition. 

The annual celebration has been running since 1966, and arrest totals have been on a rising curve since the start of the millennium. The total over the past 20 years, between 2005 and 2024, is now well over the 5,000 mark. 

In previous years, politicians such as Nigel Farage have suggested the annual festival should be cancelled due to the ‘litany’ of offences that take place there.

Notting Hill Carnival has previously said it has worked to improve things by listening carefully to the Metropolitan Police’s concerns – leading to numerous changes this year.

The festival also points out that the Mayor of London says it contributes around £400m annually to the economy – far more than the roughly £11.7m it costs the Met to police.

Protesters lay on the ground in Parliament Square holding signs reading ‘I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action’ on Saturday, September 6

Police officers take away a protester during a mass demonstration in Parliament Square against the ban on Palestine Action in London

Notting Hill Carnival has been contacted for further comment. 

However the most recent public event which led to the highest number of arrests by far was the rally for Palestine Action on Saturday, September 6.

There were 890 people arrested at a demonstration against the ban on the group in London, the Metropolitan Police said.

The government proscribed Palestine Action a terrorist group in July after its activists broke into an RAF base and damaged two military aircraft earlier this year.

Nevertheless an estimated 1,500 took part in the Parliament Square protest, despite membership being punishable by up to 14 years in prison – leading to mass arrests.