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Western Telegraph
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Police officers and Met chief express concerns over Notting Hill Carnival
Deputy general secretary of the Metropolitan Police Federation Simon Hill said none of the frontline officers he speaks to look forward to working at the event, amid concerns there could be a deadly crush due to the size of the crowds that the carnival attracts. Carnival chairman Ian Comfort has requested more funding from the Government to steward the event and address safety concerns, amid ongoing warnings from police that there could be a tragedy. Police officers on duty at the event in 2024 (Lucy North/PA) A report by Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley for the London Policing Board, that meets on Thursday, says force bosses are 'significantly concerned' that funding for extra stewards for the August Bank Holiday event will not be in place in time. Referring to phase one of a review commissioned by organisers that looked at crowd safety and stewarding, the report says: 'We are however significantly concerned that with just a matter of weeks to go until this year's event that the essential funding has not been secured and, with each week that passes, the ability to successfully implement the Phase One recommendations becomes more challenging as event management companies will be hesitant to take on an event at such short notice without a sufficient lead-in time.' Around 7,000 Metropolitan Police officers are deployed to each day of the event, and the cost of policing the Carnival in 2023 was £11.7 million according to figures released under Freedom of Information legislation. Mr Hill said officers are 'as worried this year as they were last year and the year before' about working at the event. 'Nobody that I speak to actually looks forward to working Notting Hill Carnival which is a real shame, because it's a vibrant event, it's an important event. 'We should enjoy interacting with the public and serving the community in it, but you have a handful of criminals who turn up to the event and just cause carnage. Sir Mark Rowley told LBC if organisers were given more money for stewards, the police could concentrate more on tackling crime at the event (Stefan Rousseau/PA) 'We had two murders (last year), 60-odd of my colleagues on average are getting assaulted every carnival, it's been going on for years and it's not acceptable.' He said the size of the area where the event is held should expand or the number of people attending should be reduced. 'Everyone accepts it's an unsafe event. Why is it still going on?' he added. 'You've got people coming onto the radio talking about a lack of confidence in the police because we're not doing our job, and yet we're spending millions of pounds over two days for an event, displacing thousands of officers to police an event. 'Could they be used better elsewhere? Could that money be used better elsewhere? I would suggest it could.' He has asked for details of what training stewards receive and what checks are carried out to make sure they are suitable to work within the crowds, but said he had not received any information. Everyone accepts it's an unsafe event. Why is it still going on? Simon Hill, Metropolitan Police Federation Sir Mark told LBC during a call-in: 'The organisers, who are really good people, need the support to be able to do it properly, to keep everyone safe so they can enjoy that event. I think they're asking for around a couple of million pounds to be able to do that properly.' He went on: 'From our perspective, we don't enjoy trying to rescue the safety, because you can't fix an event where the safety is at risk. 'You can only sort of mitigate it, you can't fix it. Frankly we want to fix our attention on the small number of people who come along to commit crime.' Two people were murdered at the carnival last year – Cher Maximen, who was killed in front of her three-year-old daughter, and chef Mussie Imnetu. Asked about the average 60 officers who are injured he said: 'The criminals who turn up to this event are really violent and very difficult, and frankly, fighting crime in a confined area where the crowds are so crushed, is doubly difficult. 'If the organisers were given the resources to run it better, we'd be able to do a better job fighting crime, and our officers would be at less risk.'
Glasgow Times
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Police officers and Met chief express concerns over Notting Hill Carnival
Deputy general secretary of the Metropolitan Police Federation Simon Hill said none of the frontline officers he speaks to look forward to working at the event, amid concerns there could be a deadly crush due to the size of the crowds that the carnival attracts. Carnival chairman Ian Comfort has requested more funding from the Government to steward the event and address safety concerns, amid ongoing warnings from police that there could be a tragedy. Police officers on duty at the event in 2024 (Lucy North/PA) A report by Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley for the London Policing Board, that meets on Thursday, says force bosses are 'significantly concerned' that funding for extra stewards for the August Bank Holiday event will not be in place in time. Referring to phase one of a review commissioned by organisers that looked at crowd safety and stewarding, the report says: 'We are however significantly concerned that with just a matter of weeks to go until this year's event that the essential funding has not been secured and, with each week that passes, the ability to successfully implement the Phase One recommendations becomes more challenging as event management companies will be hesitant to take on an event at such short notice without a sufficient lead-in time.' Around 7,000 Metropolitan Police officers are deployed to each day of the event, and the cost of policing the Carnival in 2023 was £11.7 million according to figures released under Freedom of Information legislation. Mr Hill said officers are 'as worried this year as they were last year and the year before' about working at the event. 'Nobody that I speak to actually looks forward to working Notting Hill Carnival which is a real shame, because it's a vibrant event, it's an important event. 'We should enjoy interacting with the public and serving the community in it, but you have a handful of criminals who turn up to the event and just cause carnage. Sir Mark Rowley told LBC if organisers were given more money for stewards, the police could concentrate more on tackling crime at the event (Stefan Rousseau/PA) 'We had two murders (last year), 60-odd of my colleagues on average are getting assaulted every carnival, it's been going on for years and it's not acceptable.' He said the size of the area where the event is held should expand or the number of people attending should be reduced. 'Everyone accepts it's an unsafe event. Why is it still going on?' he added. 'You've got people coming onto the radio talking about a lack of confidence in the police because we're not doing our job, and yet we're spending millions of pounds over two days for an event, displacing thousands of officers to police an event. 'Could they be used better elsewhere? Could that money be used better elsewhere? I would suggest it could.' He has asked for details of what training stewards receive and what checks are carried out to make sure they are suitable to work within the crowds, but said he had not received any information. Sir Mark told LBC during a call-in: 'The organisers, who are really good people, need the support to be able to do it properly, to keep everyone safe so they can enjoy that event. I think they're asking for around a couple of million pounds to be able to do that properly.' He went on: 'From our perspective, we don't enjoy trying to rescue the safety, because you can't fix an event where the safety is at risk. 'You can only sort of mitigate it, you can't fix it. Frankly we want to fix our attention on the small number of people who come along to commit crime.' Two people were murdered at the carnival last year – Cher Maximen, who was killed in front of her three-year-old daughter, and chef Mussie Imnetu. Asked about the average 60 officers who are injured he said: 'The criminals who turn up to this event are really violent and very difficult, and frankly, fighting crime in a confined area where the crowds are so crushed, is doubly difficult. 'If the organisers were given the resources to run it better, we'd be able to do a better job fighting crime, and our officers would be at less risk.'
The Guardian
11-02-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Court rules against Metropolitan police crackdown on officers
The Metropolitan police have lost a high court case over whether they can oust officers and staff deemed unsuitable through enhanced vetting procedures. Scotland Yard had used the scheme, which effectively dismisses officers by removing their vetting clearance, to get rid of scores staff – some of whom had faced allegations of sexual assault. It was launched after a series of scandals which had sapped public confidence, including the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard by serving Met officer Wayne Couzens in 2021. But judges have ruled against the force after a challenge by the Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers. The Met commissioner, Mark Rowley, who has publicly vowed to clean up the force, has been left furious by the judgment and will consider an appeal. Rowley believes the process is a vital part of the effort to root out bad or suspect officers. The Met now has to reinstate those removed from the force after their vetting status was withdrawn, and those who left could be eligible for back pay. Under the scheme, if the Met received adverse information about an officer or staff member, their vetting would be reviewed. Vetting essentially clears them to access sensitive information and work in sensitive roles. If vetting approval is withdrawn, the staff member attends a gross incompetence hearing and can be dismissed. The Met says more than 100 officers and staff have left the force after their vetting was called into question. More details soon …
