Future of Notting Hill Carnival ‘in jeopardy’

The future of the Notting Hill Carnival may doubt the government without a “emergency funding”, in a letter leaked to the BBC.

Carnival President Ian Comfort, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy’ye, “this iconic event will come and need to protect public security,” he said.

The letter follows a study of the festival, which attracts about two million people during the August Bank holiday weekend and requires additional financing to address “critical public security concerns”.

Matt Twist of Met Police Deputy Commissioner of the Police Increased concerns of the “mass injured activity” Due to the crowded density.

Culture, Media and Sports Department was contacted for a response.

The independent security review was assigned by carnival’s organizers and paid by the Great London Authority (GLA), Kensington and Chelsea Council and Westminster Council at a cost of £ 100,000.

The full findings and suggestions of the security examination have not been explained to the public.

In the leaked letter, Mr. Comfort is also a A separate report by the London Assembly. He said that this study, published in April, emphasized the increasing difficulty given to the Metropolitan Police during large -scale public activities.

“Limited resources limited the ability of police service to respond to increasing operational pressures.” He said.

“In order to allow the police to focus on the primary role of the police prevention and the protection of the public opinion, the increasing investment in the crowded management” is now necessary.

Mr. Comfort wrote the risk of “immediately” additional financing “, to sacrifice public security and to endanger the future of the carnival.”

He did not put a number on the necessary financing level.

Although Mr. Comfort provided “important support” during the past festivals, GLA and the two councils, they can not meet the increasing operational requirements specified in the examination “.

Authorized, “Great National Activity”, “coordinated, well -based security approach is necessary to protect the participants,” he added.

The government supported the Carnival through bodies like the art council, England.

However, it is understood that if the organizers are requested, it will be determined that government financing is provided for the first time for the first time.

As part of the policing operation for the 2024 carnival, MET worked with approximately 7,000 officials from local police teams and expert units with a change of approximately 14,000 civil servants during the entire event.

Mr. Twist, who gave evidence to the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee in September: “While accepting this The crime usually takes headlinesWhat worries me the most is the potential of crowded density and a mass wounded event. “

While the committee’s report was subjected to increasing challenges by the power carnival, it found that “this was not matched with an increase in the financing of the government”.

Speaking about the publication of the report in April, Susan Hall, “Met to fulfill its duties and is absolutely important for the lack of attorney from the organizers.”