London’s Notting Hill Carnival is at risk of a Hillsborough-scale ‘mass-casualty event’, Sir Sadiq Khan has been warned.
A police and crime committee for The London Assembly said the Met had consistently raised concerns about the occasion, which sees at least one million people gather on the streets of west London every August bank holiday weekend.
Met assistant commissioner, Matt Twist, explained crowd density was ‘probably the most concerning element’ of the event, The Times reports.
He added: ‘We [had] to step in a number of times in order to reduce the crowd density in order to save life.’
Scotland Yard previously said ‘unacceptable violence’ had marred last year’s carnival.
The comments came as one mother, Cher Maximen, 32, was fatally stabbed in front of her daughter on ‘Family Day’, while a Dubai-based chef called Mussie Imnetu, 41, was beaten to death during an altercation.
Two men were subsequently convicted. In addition, the event saw eight non-fatal stabbings reported.
London mayor Sadiq Khan was urged by the committee to commission a review into crowd safety and density.
Residents and businesses praised the ‘amazing’ carnival weekend and claimed the celebration was ‘great for community spirit’
A police officer takes a picture of revellers
Notting Hill is one of the longest-running street parties in the UK and celebrates Caribbean culture with vividly costumed performers taking part in a parade through the streets with dancing and music
This would include an examination of ‘pinch points’ to inform stewarding requirements.
Committee chairman Susan Hall said: ‘The Met told us there is a real possibility of a mass-casualty event, and we cannot stand by and wait for a tragic incident to happen: action must be taken.’
Last year, Met commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, said: ‘Even though there are crime risks, we are more worried about the crowd risks … We try to reduce the risk of a Hillsborough-type [disaster] but we’re mitigating something that is unsatisfactory.’
The organisers of the carnival said they were pleased at the agreement that an independent review should be undertaken and that the first stage of a report had been delivered and was being reviewed by partners.
A spokesman for Sir Sadiq said: ‘An independent review is underway.’
Pictures from the most recent carnival revealed the efforts of council teams to tidy up the mountains of rubbish left in the aftermath as cleaners worked through the night to restore the streets.
Workers in hi viz jackets were seen out in the early hours of Tuesday morning clearing huge piles of food packages, drink cans and six tonnes of laughing gas canisters.
The rubbish had amassed after two million revellers partied in the area across the bank holiday weekend in the celebration of Caribbean culture, as vividly costumed performers took part in parades through the streets with dancing and music.
Kensington and Chelsea Council (RBKC) said around 30 per cent of the rubbish collected would be recycled, with waste from toilets being composted
A Samba dancer performs ahead of the Notting Hill Carnival parade in London
Police watch as revellers attend Notting Hill Carnival. Notting Hill is one of the longest-running street parties in the UK
In the aftermath of the event, 200 operatives and 30 waste trucks cleared 330 tonnes of rubbish – 30 more than last year – to leave the streets looking good as new.
The mammoth clean-up took place after police revealed they had arrested at least 330 people in connection with incidents at the Carnival – with three people including a 32-year-old mother left fighting for their lives.
But residents and businesses praised the ‘amazing’ carnival weekend and claimed the celebration was ‘great for community spirit’.
Anna Stark, 86, who said she had lived just off Ladbroke Grove for 15 years, commented: ‘Personally, I really enjoy Carnival.
‘My family comes here and we make a weekend of it – enjoying the music and the atmosphere.
‘Sometimes I watch from my window, and sometimes I go out and join in.
‘It’s lovely to see young people having fun. And they often appreciate seeing an older person enjoying herself.
‘The police are brilliant – and the cleanup is always efficient. I know there have been some stabbings this year – which is always worrying. But I don’t feel unsafe.’
