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The Notting Hill Carnival is facing an uncertain future if urgent funding is not provided by the government, according to a letter leaked to the BBC from its organisers. Ian Comfort, the Carnival chair, reached out to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to request essential funding to ensure the future and public safety of the iconic event. A review of the festival, which draws around two million attendees over the August Bank Holiday weekend, highlighted critical public safety concerns that require additional funding to address.
The Metropolitan Police’s Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist previously expressed concerns about the potential for a “mass casualty event” due to crowd density, further emphasizing the importance of addressing these safety issues promptly. The Department for Culture, Media, and Sport has been approached for a response regarding the funding request. A thorough independent safety review, funded by the Greater London Authority (GLA), Kensington, and Chelsea Council, and Westminster Council, was conducted following the identification of these critical safety concerns during the carnival.
In the leaked letter, Mr. Comfort also referenced a separate report by the London Assembly that underscored the increasing pressure placed on the Metropolitan Police during large-scale public events. Limited resources have constrained the police service’s ability to handle these growing operational pressures effectively, making increased investment in stewarding and crowd management crucial to allowing the police to concentrate on crime prevention and public protection. Without immediate additional funding, the future of the carnival and public safety could be compromised, according to Mr. Comfort. However, he did not specify the exact amount of funding needed to address these concerns.
While the GLA and local councils have previously provided significant support for stewarding at past festivals, they are unable to meet the evolving operational requirements outlined in the safety review. A coordinated, well-resourced safety approach is deemed essential to safeguard attendees at this major national event. While the government has historically supported the Carnival through various bodies such as Arts Council England, direct government funding would be provided for the first time if the organisers’ request is granted. The Carnival’s policing operation for the 2024 event saw approximately 7,000 officers on duty and highlighted the Met Police’s concerns around crowd density and potential safety risks, signaling the pressing need for additional funding for adequate stewarding and crowd management
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