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Daily Mail
3 hours 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
4 hours 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.
The Guardian
7 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Notting Hill carnival in danger without ‘urgent funding', says leaked letter
The future of the Notting Hill carnival could be in jeopardy without 'urgent funding' from the government, according to a leaked letter from its organisers. The carnival's chair, Ian Comfort, has written to the culture secretary to request public money, the BBC reported on Wednesday. It follows a review of the festival in west London, which began in 1966, identifying 'critical public safety concerns' that needed additional funding to address, the letter said. Comfort wrote that the money was 'essential to safeguarding the future and public safety of this iconic event', but did not state a figure. The independent safety review, whose findings and recommendations have not been made public, 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 city council. In the leaked letter to Lisa Nandy, Comfort also referred to a separate report published in April by the London Assembly. He said the research highlighted 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 pressures,' Comfort said in the letter. He went on to say that increased investment in stewarding and crowd management was 'now essential to allow the police to focus on their primary role of crime prevention and public protection'. Comfort added that a failure to secure immediate additional funding 'risks compromising public safety and jeopardising the future of the carnival'. The carnival chair said that although the GLA 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'. Sign up to Headlines UK Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion The Met police's assistant commissioner, Matt Twist, previously raised concerns of a 'mass casualty event' at the carnival due to crowd density. Giving evidence to the London Assembly police and crime committee last September, Twist said: '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 carnival, second only to Brazil's Rio Carnival in size, attracts about 2 million people over the August bank holiday weekend. This year's event is scheduled to take place on 24 and 25 August. The Met had about 7,000 officers on duty for last year's festivities, drawn from local policing teams and specialist units. The organisers of Notting Hill carnival have been contacted for comment.
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Iconic UK festival attracting millions each year ‘faces axe without more cash as it makes urgent appeal for help'
DANCE OFF Iconic UK festival attracting millions each year 'faces axe without more cash as it makes urgent appeal for help' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE FUTURE of an iconic UK festival could be in jeopardy unless the government steps in organisers have warned. Millions travel to the Notting Hill Carnival in London each year to join in with the iconic, colourful celebrations. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 The festival has come under fire amid concerns for public safety Credit: Alamy In a leaked letter to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy festival chiefs asked for an urgent handout to keep the world famous event going, the BBC reports. It comes after a review of the festival identified "critical public safety concerns" that needed more money to address. Notting Hill Carnival attracts a whopping 2 million revellers a year but has come under fire recently after public safety concerns were raised. Carnival Chair Ian Comfort said in the letter: "The April 2025 London Assembly report, external 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 pressures." He went on to say that without immediate additional funding "risks compromising public safety and jeopardising the future of the carnival." The full findings of the safety review have not been made public yet. Held annually over the August Bank Holiday weekend last year's Carnival saw a woman tragically stabbed to death amid chaotic scenes. Cher Maximen, who was 32, was with friends and her daughter just off the Carnival parade route on Sunday, 25 August 2024 when she was caught up in a violent fight involving multiple men. Maximen was stabbed and tragically died in hospital six days later. The shocking incident sparked widespread concern around the safety of Notting Hill Carnival. Notting Hill revellers hit streets in fabulous feathers as party gets underway The Met Police's Assistant Commissioner has raised concerns over a "mass casualty event" due to density of the massive crowds attracted by the festivities. Without funding to help make the event safer chief's have warned it may not be able to go ahead. In the leaked letter carnival chair Ian Comfort asked for further funding to support increased stewarding and crowd management. Mr Comfort has reportedly not asked for a specific amount of funding. If his request is granted it will mark the first time direct government funding has been provided to the event. During last year's carnival around 7,000 police officers were on duty to help keep festival goers safe.
The Sun
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Iconic UK festival attracting millions each year ‘faces axe without more cash as it makes urgent appeal for help'
THE FUTURE of an iconic UK festival could be in jeopardy unless the government steps in organisers have warned. Millions travel to the Notting Hill Carnival in London each year to join in with the iconic, colourful celebrations. 1 In a leaked letter to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy festival chiefs asked for an urgent handout to keep the world famous event going, the BBC reports. It comes after a review of the festival identified "critical public safety concerns" that needed more money to address. Notting Hill Carnival attracts a whopping 2 million revellers a year but has come under fire recently after public safety concerns were raised. Carnival Chair Ian Comfort said in the letter: "The April 2025 London Assembly report, external 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 pressures." He went on to say that without immediate additional funding "risks compromising public safety and jeopardising the future of the carnival." The full findings of the safety review have not been made public yet. Held annually over the August Bank Holiday weekend last year's Carnival saw a woman tragically stabbed to death amid chaotic scenes. Cher Maximen, who was 32, was with friends and her daughter just off the Carnival parade route on Sunday, 25 August 2024 when she was caught up in a violent fight involving multiple men. Maximen was stabbed and tragically died in hospital six days later. The shocking incident sparked widespread concern around the safety of Notting Hill Carnival. Notting Hill revellers hit streets in fabulous feathers as party gets underway The Met Police's Assistant Commissioner has raised concerns over a "mass casualty event" due to density of the massive crowds attracted by the festivities. Without funding to help make the event safer chief's have warned it may not be able to go ahead. In the leaked letter carnival chair Ian Comfort asked for further funding to support increased stewarding and crowd management. Mr Comfort has reportedly not asked for a specific amount of funding. If his request is granted it will mark the first time direct government funding has been provided to the event. During last year's carnival around 7,000 police officers were on duty to help keep festival goers safe.
