Notting Hill Carnival Faces Safety Funding Crisis

The future of the Notting Hill Carnival is in jeopardy unless the UK government provides urgent new funding to address critical public safety concerns raised in an independent review. Organisers, including chair Ian Comfort, have warned Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy that without immediate support, they cannot meet stewarding and crowd management needs, risking crowd crushes and other safety incidents. Last year's festival saw multiple stabbings and fatalities, highlighting escalating violence and operational pressures. City Hall and local councils have said they can no longer fund the necessary safety measures, having already contributed substantially in the past. The government, which has only indirectly supported the event so far, has stated it will respond to the funding request 'in due course.' Metropolitan Police and city officials have echoed organisers' warnings about the risk of a potential mass casualty event.