Notting Hill Carnival Strategic Review - Intelligent Space

person falling to their death from a window ledge in 2003 and five people being treated for stab
wounds.
2.2 Within the event planning process, several public agencies have individual responsibilities to
prevent or respond to these threats. The Carnival Review Group’s interim report rightly focused
on the public safety profile of the Notting Hill Carnival with all stakeholders expressing the need
to prioritise the safety of Carnival goers and Carnival participants. In their submissions to the
Review Group, the local authorities have stated that the Notting Hill Carnival has now become a
victim of its own success. Their argument is that attendance levels at the event are such that the
ability of NHCT (and its successor, LNHCL) to discharge its responsibilities as the ‘event
organiser’ has become increasingly difficult. In addition, all the statutory agencies are faced with
increasing demands on their resources. It was therefore felt that any further growth in crowd
numbers would make the Carnival less safe.
Public Safety Recommendations of the Interim Report
2.3 In its interim report, the Carnival Review Group set out fourteen key public safety profile
recommendations 46 , which included:
• the need to support NHCT (through secondments and increased financial resources) as the
lead organisation responsible for co-ordinating an effective public safety strategy for
Carnival.
• the development of a Carnival communications strategy.
• increasing the number of route marshals and stewards at Carnival 2001.
• the immediate introduction of a non-circular processional route.
• reducing the number and size of vehicles currently being used on the Carnival route.
• re-introducing the MPS practice of allocating a police officer to each band/float (‘Band
Serial Officers’).
• relocating live stages and those static sound systems drawing crowds of over 5,000 people
to more suitable sites within the existing Carnival area, or to alternative venues.
• increasing the number and location of toilet facilities.
• establishing a Carnival transport committee to develop an improved transport strategy.
• ensuring that key Carnival facilities such as toilets and first aid areas are adequate in
quantity and are clearly defined and signposted.
• returning Carnival Sunday to “Children’s Day” and giving priority to those Carnival
activities and art forms that reflected traditional Caribbean culture.
• the need for central Government support in the areas of i) public safety and policing and
ii) cultural and artistic content.
46
See Appendix 5: Interim Report: Public Safety Profile Recommendations
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