Concerns Rise Over Notting Hill Carnival Safety

Concerns regarding safety at the Notting Hill Carnival have intensified, with Mayor Sadiq Khan expressing fears of a potential catastrophe due to high crowd density and insufficient stewarding. Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist of the Metropolitan Police highlighted that the event risks becoming a 'mass casualty' situation, noting that this year saw 889 crimes reported, including eight stabbings and two fatalities. The police reported a significant shortfall in stewards, with approximately 70 fewer than previous years, complicating crowd management efforts. Twist emphasized that while crime is a concern, crowd density poses the greatest threat to safety. The lack of adequate funding for the carnival's organization has also been cited as a contributing factor to these challenges. Organizers have been urged to consider alternative locations or strategies to enhance safety for the expected one million attendees.