Police make more than 100 arrests on day one of Notting Hill Carnival

More than a hundred arrests have been made during the first day of Notting Hill Carnival, as hundreds of thousands of revellers begin a final day of celebrations.

Scotland Yard said there had been 106 arrests during the first day of carnival as of 10pm on Sunday, with more than a third of these – 42 – for drugs offences.

There were also eight arrests for possession of an offensive weapon or knife/ blade, nine public order arrests and ten common assault arrests. Some nine arrests for sexual offences were also carried out, and six arrests for assault of police officers.

The numbers are roughly the same as the first day of carnival 2016, when around 105 people were arrested, overwhelmingly for drugs offences.

It follows a three-week crackdown on crime, which saw more than 600 people arrested and a large number of knives, guns, weapons, drugs and money seized, culminating in a series of dawn raids.

Scotland Yard was criticised for linking the raids with the carnival, and was unable to confirm it had received prior intelligence that the individuals targeted were planning on disrupting the festivities.

On Monday the entire carnival procession will pause for the second time for a minute’s silence in honour of those who lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire.

Hundreds of thousands of revellers are expected to take to the streets in west London for the second and final day of the annual August bank holiday event, which traditionally celebrates the capital’s Caribbean communities.

The colourful and flamboyant parade will pass within half a mile of the blackened tower, with a yellow reflection zone where performers are encouraged to dip their music and walk respectably. Sunday’s events, the more family friendly of the two-day parade, saw a series of commemorations to the people who died in the tragedy on June 14, when at least 80 people lost their lives.

The Lancaster West estate, where the blackened shell of the tower stands, will remain fenced off from the main carnival procession out of respect for local residents and mourners.

The release of dozens of white doves marked the start of the festivities, followed by a minute’s silence at 3pm, when the otherwise joyous attendees bowed their heads in honour of those who perished and the people that tried to save them.

Crews at North Kensington fire station, in the heart of the parade route in Ladbroke Grove, joined the occasion, where crowds erupted into applause and queued to thank them for their bravery.

A second silence is expected to take place at 3pm, followed by a rendition of the Grenfell charity single Bridge Over Troubled Water.

A heavy police presence marked the tree-lined streets leading to the main parade route, including steel barriers, concrete blocks and weapons checks, which police said were in place to guard against the threat of a Barcelona-style terror incident, and potential acid attacks.

Speaking at the official opening of the carnival on Sunday, local MP Emma Dent addressed the “Grenfell generation”, telling them: “Today is a day to set aside our burden of sadness.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan also pledged to “redouble our efforts to support this community” and “make sure those responsible are held to account” to ensure that the tragedy of Grenfell Tower “never ever, ever happens again”.

The London Ambulance Service said it had treated 344 patients during the first day of carnival – many for alcohol-related injuries.

The Met said a “mild acidic liquid” was thrown over a number of people at St Charles Square, near to Ladbroke Grove, just before 8pm on Sunday.

A spokesman said: “Some of the crowd in the area then quickly dispersed, causing injuries to two people, who have since received treatment from the London Ambulance Service at the scene.

“Three people have also reported skin irritation injuries, although these are not thought to be serious.”

There have been no arrests, and police are working to identify who was responsible, the force said.

As of 3.30pm on Monday, some 149 arrests had been made – over a third of which, 61, were for drug offences, the Met said.

There were 17 public order arrests, and 15 arrests for possession of an offensive weapon, or knife/blade.