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BBC News
11 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Notting Hill Carnival's lack of funding 'a significant concern'
The Metropolitan Police has said it is "significantly concerned" that Notting Hill Carnival is yet to secure "essential funding" with only a matter of weeks until the event. The comments, made in the London Policing Board agenda, explain that "crowd safety needs to be addressed", and calls for effective stewarding. The concerns come after a leaked letter to the BBC showed that carnival organisers felt the event could be in doubt without "urgent funding" from the government. Carnival chair Ian Comfort has written to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to request the funding, which he said was "essential to safeguarding the future and public safety of this iconic event". The government is yet to respond, and has told media it will "respond to the letter in due course".The Met Police's Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist previously raised concerns of a "mass casualty event" due to crowd density. Running out of time The new comments from the Met Police highlight the force's worries over the event going ahead. The Met said: "With each week that passes, the ability to successfully implement the phase one recommendations become more challenging as event management companies will be hesitant to take on an event at such short notice without a sufficient lead in time."Phase one recommendations focus on event management and crowd said, however, that its own plans for policing the event were "well underway", and said that planning began "as soon as last year's carnival concluded".As part of its policing operation for the 2024 carnival, the Met had about 7,000 officers on duty, drawn from local policing teams as well as specialist units, with a total of around 14,000 officer shifts across the whole event. The latest concerns from the Met follow a review of the festival, which attracts about two million people over the August Bank Holiday weekend, which identified "critical public safety concerns" that needed additional funding to address, the letter independent safety review was commissioned by the carnival's organisers and paid for at a cost of £100,000 by the Greater London Authority (GLA), Kensington and Chelsea Council and Westminster safety review's full findings and recommendations have not been made public. In the leaked letter, Mr Comfort wrote that a failure to secure immediate additional funding "risks compromising public safety and jeopardising the future of the carnival".He did not put a number on the level of funding Comfort said that while the Greater London Authority and the two councils had provided "substantial support" for stewarding during past festivals, they could no longer meet the "growing operational requirements identified in the review". The government has supported Carnival through bodies such as Arts Council it is understood that if the organisers' request is granted, it would mark the first time direct government funding has been provided.
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Notting Hill Carnival crush risk made me frightened, says Khan
The risk of a crowd crush at Notting Hill Carnival "made me frightened", London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan at mayor's question time, he said Carnival had become a "victim of its own success" with it now attracting about two million people across the August bank holiday has backed a call from the event's organisers for urgent funding from the government to help pay for additional public safety measures. The government said it would respond to the request "in due course".Susan Hall, Conservative group leader at City Hall, said the festival was a "disaster waiting to happen", adding: "I think there comes a time when it isn't down to money. It's down to the situation." In his letter to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, which was leaked to the BBC on Wednesday, Carnival chair Ian Comfort said the future of the event could be in doubt without the additional funding to improve crowd an independent public safety review which had been commissioned by Carnival organisers, Sir Sadiq said a "funding gap" had opened due to the added costs of implementing its recommendations. He told the London Assembly: "The carnival has been going since 1966, organised by the community, the second biggest street festival in the world."[At] City Hall, we've been supporting the carnival in my last nine years as mayor in terms of funding for safety and security. We fund the carnival safety and security, to the tune of about £1,000,000."The mayor said the current level of funding currently given by City Hall, Kensington and Chelsea Council and Westminster Council was the "maximum we can financially, and so we would need the government to step in". He said he shared concerns raised by the Metropolitan Police around the risks of "crushing at certain pinch points"."I've seen images of some of the crowds at some parts of the day and watching that made me frightened," the mayor said the UK has expertise in crowd management following the events such as the 1989 Hillsborough tragedy and that any recommendations to reduce such risks at Notting Hill Carnival needed to be implemented. Ms Hall, a former Tory mayoral candidate, questioned whether the government should "fund an event that two people died at last year".Cher Maximen was fatally stabbed in front of her three-year-old daughter at the 2024 event and chef Mussie Imnetu was murdered close to the carnival route. The Met has previously said the measures it takes to manage the crowd limits the ability of police officers to focus on crime prevention. Rachel Alexander, who has performed at Notting Hill Carnival since 2008, called for the funding to be granted."If the government truly values the cultural and economic impact of Carnival then they should invest in its foundation," she told BBC added that while last year was among her best "on the road in terms of crowd control", it can depend on the band and if they could afford "top notch security". "Overall, the event needs better infrastructure to crowd control," she said.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Notting Hill Carnival ‘in jeopardy without government funding'
Notting Hill Carnival organisers have said the event is in jeopardy without government funding. Ian Comfort, the carnival's chairman, has written to the Culture Secretary to demand funds to keep its two million visitors safe. The August bank holiday event has long been overshadowed by crime. Last year's event saw two deaths, eight stabbings, 334 arrests and 50 injured police officers. In the letter to Lisa Nandy, first reported by BBC News, Mr Comfort warned that failure to secure funding 'risks compromising public safety and jeopardising the future of the carnival'. The letter comes after an independent safety review commissioned by the carnival's organisers found 'critical public safety concerns' at the festival. The review, whose findings and recommendations have not been made public, cost £100,000 which was covered by the taxpayer-funded Greater London Authority (GLA), Kensington and Chelsea Council and Westminster Council. The Government has previously supported the carnival through bodies such as Arts Council England, but it is understood that the organisers are requesting direct funding for the first time since its inception in 1966. Mr Comfort has told the Culture Secretary that investment was needed for stewarding and crowd management to allow police to focus on 'crime prevention and public protection'. He warned that the GLA and two councils could no longer 'meet the growing operational requirements' of stewarding the event. It is unclear how much funding the carnival organisers are asking for. The Met Police deployed 7,000 officers to the 2024 event, with a total of around 14,000 officer shifts allocated to the whole event. Matt Twist, the force's assistant commissioner, has previously raised concerns that the carnival could turn into a 'mass casualty event'. He told the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee in September: 'While we acknowledge that crime often gets the headlines, the thing that worries me most is the crowd density and the potential for a mass casualty event.' The committee later published its own report, which warned that the force was being put under an increasing strain which 'has not been matched with an increase in funding from the government'. Two people died in separate attacks at the carnival last year. Cher Maximen, 38, was stabbed in the groin in front of her three-year-old daughter while attempting to break up a fight on Sunday. She died after losing five litres of blood. Mussie Imnetu, a 41-year-old Swedish chef who had trained under Gordon Ramsay, was kicked and punched outside of a restaurant on Monday, dying four days later. He had been visiting the UK on business from Dubai, where he worked as head chef of the Arts Club. Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said: 'This violence is shocking, completely unacceptable, and a betrayal of the values that Carnival was founded to celebrate.' Commander Charmain Brenyah, the Met's Carnival spokesman, said at the time: 'Carnival is about bringing people together in a positive celebration. That it has ended with the tragic loss of life, amongst other incidents of serious violence, will sadden everyone involved.' The Department for Culture, Media and Sport told the BBC it would 'respond to the letter in due course'.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Future of Notting Hill Carnival 'up in the air', leaked letter reveals
Notting Hill Carnival could be cancelled without 'urgent funding' from the government, its organisers have reportedly warned in a leaked letter. It comes after a review of the festival, which takes place on August Bank Holiday weekend, identified 'critical public safety concerns'. Last year, more than 300 people were arrested and eight people were stabbed during the event, which attracts up to two million visitors. Ian Comfort, the Carnival's chair, has now said in a letter seen by the BBC that additional funding is needed to address the issues and make sure it safe to run. He is understood to have written to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to request the money, which is 'essential to safeguarding the future and public safety of this iconic event'. Mr Comfort said in the letter: 'The April 2025 London Assembly report highlights the increasing strain placed on the Metropolitan Police during large-scale public events. 'Limited resourcing has restricted the police service's ability to respond to growing operational pressure.' He called for more investment into stewarding and crowd management, which he said was essential for the police to focus on preventing crime. Notting Hill Carnival has been indirectly supported by the government through public bodies such as Arts Council England. But it is understood if the request for funding is granted, it will be the first time direct government financial support is provided for the event. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said it would 'respond to the letter in due course'. Last year, 7,000 police officers were on duty at Notting Hill Carnival, with a total of around 14,000 officer shifts across the whole event. However, two people tragically died from injuries they sustained in separate attacks at the festival. Cher Maximen, 32, was brutally stabbed in front of her three-year-old daughter after she got caught in the middle of a fight between two groups of men. She was rushed to hospital but died six days later - sparking concerns about the safety at the event. Meanwhile Mussie Imnetu - a Michelin star chef - died from a severe head injury he sustained during an assault at the carnival. He was repeatedly punched and kicked by charity worker Omar Wilson, 31, a court previously heard. After the attack, Wilson went out clubbing with his friends at the Ministry of Sound and confessed to one of them in a text message, writing: 'There's a monster in me.. And it's just like sometimes it comes out. And I think I've messed up now. And everything's finished. 'I've f****d up. I crossed the line and went overboard. I don't think I can come back from this mistake. I'm going to jail in the morning.' He was jailed for at least 18 years in February for the attack. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan commented: 'It is heartbreaking that Cher Maximen and Mussie Imnetu have died after being attacked in separate incidents over the bank holiday weekend. 'My thoughts are with their families and friends at this truly terrible time. 'This violence is shocking, completely unacceptable and a betrayal of the values that (Notting Hill) Carnival was founded to celebrate.' The organisers of Notting Hill Carnival said in a statement: 'Notting Hill Carnival is shocked by these tragic deaths and our thoughts are with the victims' families and the local community as a whole, which like so many others, has suffered all too often from the blight of violent crime. 'We stand together against all violence and condemn these acts, which are against all carnival values and the millions of people who come in celebration of them.' MailOnline has contacted Notting Hill Carnival for comment on the letter about funding concerns.
Times
2 days ago
- Times
Notting Hill Carnival ‘at risk without funding for public safety'
The future of Notting Hill Carnival could be at risk without 'urgent funding' from the government, its organisers have warned. In a letter to the culture secretary, the organisers of the annual summer festival, held in west London, say it requires extra money or going ahead 'risks compromising public safety'. At least one million people normally attend the weekend festival, which has been marred by several acts of violence in recent years. Ian Comfort, chairman of the Carnival Village Trust, which runs the festival, has written to Lisa Nandy, the secretary of state for culture, media and sport, about its future. 'Limited resourcing has restricted the police service's ability to respond to growing operational pressures,' Comfort said in the letter, reported by the BBC. He said it was 'now essential to allow the police to focus on their primary role of crime prevention and public protection' and that crowd management should be handled by more stewards. Comfort added that if the festival was unable to secure 'immediate' additional funding, it 'risks compromising public safety and jeopardising the future of the carnival'. His intervention followed comments last September from Matt Twist, the Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner with responsibility for frontline policing, who said there were some near misses because of crowd density at last August's carnival. 'We [had] to step in a number of times in order to reduce the crowd density in order to save life,' Twist said. Scotland Yard have said that 'unacceptable violence' marred last year's carnival. Cher Maximen, 32,was fatally stabbed in front of her daughter on 'family day' and Mussie Imnetu, 41, a Dubai-based chef, was beaten to death during an altercation. Two men have been separately convicted of the unrelated offences. Eight non-fatal stabbings were also reported. The London Assembly's police and crime committee produced a report in April warning that a Hillsborough-scale tragedy could happen. Susan Hall, the committee chairwoman, said: 'We have seen and heard a number of incredibly worrying incidents [relating to] crowd density at the event. The Met told us there is a real possibility of a mass-casualty event and we cannot stand by and wait for a tragic incident to happen. Action must be taken.' A review of crowd safety is under way. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has been contacted for comment.
