Met Police fear ‘mass casualty event at Notting Hill Carnival

The London Assembly is asking for a multitude security review at Notting Hill Carnival in the middle of the Conerns Police about “an event of mass minimum” at the two -day festival.

Susan Hall Am, president of the Police and Crime Committee of the Assembly, said it has “a series of incredible worrying incidents with crowds” in the Carnival.

She raised concerns about the ability of the Metropolitan Police “to support safe visitors or respond to incidents that occur.”

The Committee said that the mayor must carry out a complete review of the pinches points and that there must be a strict orientation for the number of administrators required throughout the carnival.

The committee also pointed out that the Notting Hill Carnival is a “unique celebration of the Caribbean culture and history” and attracts around two million visitors every year.

However, the volume of people also creates “a complex police challenge.”

As part of its police operation for the 2024 carnival, with with had around 7,000 service officers, extracted from local police teams, as well as specialized units, with a total of around 14000 changes of officers throughout the event.

Giving evidence to the Committee in September 2024, the MET assistant commissioner, Matt Twist, said: “While we recognize that the crime obtains the holders, what worries me the most is the density of the crowd and the potential of a mass event.”

Mrs. Hall said Tuesday, after the publication of the report of the Committee on Public Order Surveillance in London: “We cannot wait and wait for a tragic incident to occur, the action must be tasks.”

She added: “Two people tragically lost their lives in last year’s event due to a violent crime, and it is absolutely essential that the MET is present to carry out their duties and not complete the lack of administration of the organizers.”

Cher Maximen, a mother and Mussie Imnetu, 32, 41, who had been visiting London from Dubai, were killed in the Carnival last year.

Notting Hill Carnival takes place for two days during the August bank holiday along a three -and -a -half -mile route (5.6 km) in North Kensington, West London, and has been running for more than 50 years.

The organizers, Notting Hill Carnival LTD, have said they use “experts from all areas of event organization” and had 3,300 service butlers in 2024 to help manage crowds.

The new report of the Assembly Police Committee also says that a greater demand for public orders in downtown London is putting under tension, and this has not matched the leg with an increase in the government.

He said: “Officers who have undertaken specialized training in public order are now moving away from public order work in increasing numbers, due to the demand for regular weekend changes and an impact on family life.

“He continues depending on the ‘abstraction’, where local officers are far from the short -term regular tasks to support public order operations in downtown London.

“Away the neighborhood officers from their regular duties is to have a continuous impact on local police services.”