Notting Hill Carnival to Go Ahead with £1M Safety Funding

The Notting Hill Carnival, Europe's largest street festival celebrating Caribbean heritage, will proceed this August bank holiday weekend after nearly £1 million in additional safety and infrastructure funding was secured from City Hall and the councils of Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster. This funding followed an independent safety review that identified critical public safety concerns requiring extra resources to ensure crowd safety at the event, which attracts up to two million attendees annually and contributes nearly £400 million to the economy. Organisers, led by Ian Comfort, expressed relief that the funding came through despite being just weeks before the event, emphasizing the carnival's cultural significance and the necessity of the support to implement key safety measures. The Metropolitan Police acknowledged ongoing safety concerns but welcomed the funding and committed to continued collaboration with organisers to mitigate risks. The event has faced challenges in recent years, including two recent murders near the route, but remains a vital celebration of Black British culture and London's identity. This year's carnival underscores the importance of multi-agency cooperation and sustained investment to maintain public safety at large-scale cultural gatherings.