Overview

• The London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee has urged Mayor Sadiq Khan to address crowd density concerns at the Notting Hill Carnival, citing risks of a Hillsborough-scale disaster.
• An independent safety review, commissioned by carnival organizers and supported by City Hall, the Met, and local councils, is currently underway with its initial findings under review.
• The Metropolitan Police highlighted crowd density as the most pressing safety issue, with incidents at past events requiring intervention to prevent dangerous bottlenecks.
• Last year’s carnival saw two fatal violent incidents and eight non-fatal stabbings, prompting further scrutiny of stewarding and crowd management protocols.
• The annual event, celebrating Caribbean heritage, attracts up to 2 million attendees, placing significant strain on policing resources and raising questions about funding and responsibility.