Notting Hill Carnival celebrates Windrush legacy in blaze of colour
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Notting Hill Carnival celebrates Windrush legacy in blaze of colour Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo Londoners celebrating Caribbean culture at Notting Hill Carnival have been back winding their way through the streets of west London for the famous parade’s 55th incarnation. Thumping sound systems accompanied colourful feathered bands with representations of everywhere from Martinique to Mauritius. Commemorating 75 years since the first Windrush arrivals, Transport for London teamed up with the Windrush Generation Association to provide a float for the veterans to celebrate. In another poignant tribute, sound systems fell silent for 72 seconds on both Sunday and Monday to remember the victims of Grenfell, the tower which can be seen from various parts of the route. Notting Hill Carnival: Storytelling at heart of Mas In pictures: Children’s Day at Notting Hill Carnival Behind the scenes with carnival’s top costume makers Celebrities including Lily Allen, Idris Elba and Nick Grimshaw were among those partying at this year’s carnival, and it was expected more than two million people would have taken to the streets by the end of the bank holiday. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 Aboard the Windrush 75 bus, Deborah Klass, chief executive of the Windrush Generation Association told how the float is dedicated to those who disembarked the HMT Empire Windrush at Tilbury in 1948, celebrating the diamond anniversary of their arrival. “I think we’ve got someone from every island in the Caribbean on this bus today,” she said. The bus was provided by GoAhead and adorning it was a bespoke Windrush stamp collection design. Ms Klass added: “We’ve been involved in getting our elders on to the bus today so that they can be celebrated. “It will have been 75 years ago since they first came to Britain. We want to give that welcome that they should have had.” Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s She continued: “London is a melting pot of diversity and culture, so it’s so wonderful that young people really want to represent Britain as well as the native country of their parents and bring them together. “It’s the legacy and memories that the Windrush generation have brought to Britain. Everyone here is just so proud of their origins and their descent. I’m here with my Grenada flag here representing my mum and dad.” Wesley Dowridge, 80, who first came to the UK in May 1962 from Guyana, was among those invited on to the bus with his daughter. He said: “We’ve been here all these years contributing to the country, through the war and the NHS. It’s great that we are finally getting the recognition. “Carnival is vitally important for my generation. We are happy people who love music, it’s beautiful to see all the young people here today of all different races together, it just shows that music and food brings everyone together. “Apparently this is the largest carnival in the world after Brazil and it makes me feel exceptionally proud.” As part of the tributes to the Grenfell victims, firefighters and survivors stood outside Ladbroke Grove fire station followed by a round of applause from the public. This year’s organisers and police said they were putting a special focus on crowd management to keep people safe. The extra measures included 500 more stewards briefed to spot densely packed areas, a group monitoring the situation by trialling crowd safety camera technology, and more officers on horses. On Sunday, the Metropolitan Police said the mood at the carnival had been “good-natured throughout the day” as they announced that a Section 60 order, providing officers with additional search powers, would be imposed overnight. The force described it as a precautionary step following information that some people had travelled to the area carrying knives. In its latest update, the Met said 275 arrests had been made across the two-day event for a range of offences, including possession of offensive weapons, assaults on police officers, possession of drugs and sexual offences. The force also said two men were in hospital. One 29-year-old man is in a critical condition in hospital following a stabbing in Warfield Road, just off Harrow Road, shortly after 21:00 BST on Monday. A 19-year-old man is in a serious but stable condition in hospital after he was stabbed in Ladbroke Grove about an hour before. Police said six other men, aged between 18 and 40, sustained non-life threatening injuries in separate stabbing incidents throughout Monday evening. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Move Notting Hill Carnival to a park – Tory mayoral candidate
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Move Notting Hill Carnival to a park – Tory mayoral candidate Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo The Conservative Party’s London mayoral candidate says Notting Hill Carnival should be moved following a spate of stabbings at this year’s event as well as assaults on police officers. Susan Hall suggested the carnival could be held in a park. Eight men were hurt in stabbings at the weekend and there were 308 arrests, with 57 for alleged assaults on police. Carnival organisers say those carrying out violence “have nothing to do with Notting Hill Carnival and its values”. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 “We deplore all acts of violence,” a Notting Hill Carnival Ltd spokesperson said. Ms Hall, who has been selected as the Tories’ 2024 London mayoral candidate, called for the event to be held in a different location, saying police “don’t want to be there”. She told LBC: “It’s very upsetting and I’m afraid we have this every single year. It’s an incredible thing, the Notting Hill Carnival. I would just say move it. Move it to where it can be policed much better than where it is now. “Because it’s so good and so successful, very, very many people go there, so it’s very, very difficult to police, so I’d be urging people to look at somewhere else it could go.” Asked where it should be moved to, she said: “Perhaps to a park. And let the organisers look and see where they would like it to be moved to.” Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s ‘Police in danger’ She added: “Of course, it is up to everybody else, it’s not up to me at this specific point. I just comment that every year – all the accidents, all the stabbings, all the various things that go on that we would not want. “And I talk to police officers daily, and they don’t want to be there, quite frankly, because they know that they are in danger.” However, Symone Williams, whose father was a founding member of the carnival in the 1960s, said moving Notting Hill Carnival out of the neighbourhood would “end a historical event”. She said if the event was taken out of Notting Hill, “then it’s no longer Notting Hill Carnival. That makes no sense”. Ms Hall made her comments after a 29-year-old man was left critically ill following a stabbing in Warfield Road at about 21:00 BST on Monday, while a 19-year-old man was seriously hurt in another stabbing in Ladbroke Grove an hour earlier. Six other men – aged 18, 19, 20, 25, 28 and 40 – were left with non-life threatening injuries in separate stabbings throughout Monday evening. A total of 198 arrests were made on Monday for a range of alleged offences, including possession of offensive weapons, assaults on police officers, drug possession and sexual offences. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said he was worried about the illegal use of weapons at the carnival but stressed the majority of people who attended the “amazing community event” had a “fantastic time”. He said the force would look at “what more can be done to help keep away the small number of very dangerous people who turn up there”. ‘Isolated’ crime Ms Williams, who is the artistic director of the Genesis Mas Band, said the carnival’s central messaging was “peace and unity” and the event should not be viewed as “synonymous with crime”. She added crime was “isolated” compared to other large-scale events. The Metropolitan Police Federation said on social media: “Once again Notting Hill Carnival marred by serious violence – and attacks on Police Officers. 75 of our colleagues assaulted. Six bitten. One sexually assaulted. One in hospital. “This is absolutely disgusting. No wonder our members dread policing this event.” Leroy Logan, a former Met superintendent and founding chair of the Black Police Association, said the violence experienced at the carnival was comparable with football matchdays. “If the federation wants it moved, then they have to come up with a stronger argument around the number of assaults,” Mr Logan said. He said “proper safeguards” and better community policing would reduce risks at the event. Windrush legacy celebrated at Notting Hill Carnival Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, who oversaw the policing operation, said: “Nobody disputes the significance of carnival on London’s cultural calendar and the overwhelming majority of those who came will have had a positive experience. “However, we cannot overlook the stabbings, sexual assaults and attacks on police officers that we have seen. “As we do following any major operation, we will be reviewing the events of the past two days and giving thorough consideration to what may need to change in future years.” He added: “Carnival is a challenging policing environment. Officers were asked to be vigilant and alert but to be approachable, respectful and sensitive at the same time. They did all of that and more and they deserve our recognition and our thanks.” A spokesman for London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the event was “born out of the Caribbean community in north Kensington and Notting Hill” and that this should “remain its home”. The Notting Hill Carnival Ltd spokesperson added: “We will continue to work hard with our partners to protect Notting Hill Carnival and the people who make it so special.” Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Notting Hill residents skip carnival for beach trip
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Notting Hill residents skip carnival for beach trip Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo More than 20 Kensington and Chelsea residents will be heading to the coast as part of a council scheme to provide them “respite” during the Notting Hill Carnival weekend. Since 2017 the local authority has partnered with the charity Age UK since 2017 to offer the break to older residents. They first need to meet strict criteria such as being over 65 years old and living directly on the carnival route. The local authority said this year’s outing would cost it £24,000 – about £1,100 per person. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 The money will be used to cover travel, accommodation, some food and additional spends such as staffing and carers. Last year £31,000 was spent by the council on the 42 residents who took part. Places are prioritised for those most in need of getting away, who might not have the means to organise a trip themselves or have no alternative options. Kensington and Chelsea offers a number of services to vulnerable residents during the event which this year runs from from 24 to 26 August. These include providing 24-hour security at its housing estates and holding individual discussions about the event with anyone who has been allocated a social worker. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s Notting Hill Carnival sees more than two million people attending each year. Masquerade dancing to steel bands and sound systems, go on show in west London over the bank holiday weekend, with more than 300 food and drink stalls. Councillor Kim Taylor-Smith, overseeing culture at Kensington and Chelsea council, said: “Carnival is a vibrant celebration of our borough’s rich culture and diversity, and we are proud to play our part in bringing it to the streets of North Kensington for huge numbers of people to enjoy each year. “There are some older vulnerable residents who require respite from carnival weekend, and we work with Age UK to provide a seaside break for those most in need who meet certain eligibility criteria.” This year will be Notting Hill Carnival’s 56th outing. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Eight stabbed and 334 arrests at Notting Hill Carnival
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Eight stabbed and 334 arrests at Notting Hill Carnival Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo Eight people were stabbed during the Notting Hill Carnival with a total of 334 people being arrested during the event, the Metropolitan Police has said. There were three stabbings on Sunday, with one of the victims being a young mother who was with a child. She remains in a critical condition. On Monday, five people were stabbed, with two of those attacked being critically injured. The Met said a total of 50 officers had been injured during the event, while most of the arrests were for possessing an offensive weapon or drug offences. More than one million people were expected at the carnival on Monday, a majority of whom police said had come “to celebrate”, with a “minority of people using it as an opportunity to commit crime, including violence”. Thousands of officers were deployed to the annual street party, which the force said was a “challenging event to police with very dense crowds”. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 The organiser Notting Hill Carnival said it works “closely with the Metropolitan Police and many dedicated partners”. The statement added “there is no excuse” for violence and “that is not Carnival”. “Carnival is the people who dedicate so much time, love and incredible creativity to the parade, sound systems, music, food and costumes,” its statement said. “The people of Carnival are part of the solution – providing community cohesion, a place for young people to gather, create and express themselves and for all generations and communities to come together, all year round. “It also benefits London as a whole, generating £369m to the economy, according to a recent study.” Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s A total of 104 people were arrested on Sunday, with 230 arrests being made on Monday. In two attacks victims sustained slash wounds and one incident involved a corrosive substance. Three firearms were recovered and there were 49 arrests for other weapons. One of those arrested was a man wanted for attempted murder in Hackney. There were eight stabbings and 275 arrests at the 2023 event. Met Police deputy assistant commissioner, Ade Adelekan, said at the weekend the carnival was supposed to be a “family day” but was “marred by unacceptable violence”. “We are tired of saying the same words every year,” he said. “We are tired of telling families that their loved ones are seriously injured, or worse. We are tired of seeing crime scenes at Carnival.” During the previous two carnivals, one person was killed, 14 others were stabbed and more than 125 police officers were assaulted. About 500 arrests were made at the carnival during those two years. Measures had been taken to reduce crime, including officers being given greater stop-and-search powers and being allowed to order the removal of face coverings. The Met said it had worked with event organisers for months to secure the event. Kensington and Chelsea Council said rubbish to the equivalent weight of about 27 London buses had so far been cleared from the streets. Approximately 30% of the waste will be recycled. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Bus driver death arrest at Notting Hill Carnival
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Bus driver death arrest at Notting Hill Carnival Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo A man has been charged with the murder of a bus driver in north London, following a manhunt that ended with him being found at Notting Hill Carnival and arrested. The Metropolitan Police had been trying to locate Kamar Williams in connection with the fatal stabbing of Derek Thomas, 53, in Stoke Newington last month – and thought Mr Williams could have been in Cornwall. Mr Williams, 33, from the Isle of Dogs in east London, was charged with murder and possession of a knife on Tuesday. He is due to appear at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 Stopped at carnival The Met said officers stopped Mr Williams at the event in west London before he was arrested. It added Mr Thomas’s family had been informed and continued to be supported by specialist officers. Officers were called at about 23:05 BST on 30 July to reports of a man suffering a stab injury in Northwold Road in Stoke Newington, east London. Police and paramedics attended but Mr Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene. In a previous statement, the force said a post-mortem examination held on 1 August gave Mr Thomas’s cause of death as a stab wound to the chest. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s A 30-year-old woman was arrested on 3 August on suspicion of assisting an offender and has since been bailed. Go-Ahead bus group, which was Mr Thomas’s employer, had said it was assisting the police with its investigation. Tom Joyner, its managing director, said: “The entire team at Go-Ahead London is saddened by this incident and the tragic loss of one of their colleagues, and our thoughts are with the family of the colleague who has lost their life.” Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Notting Hill Carnival is poorly run – Met chief
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Notting Hill Carnival is poorly run – Met chief Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has said the Notting Hill Carnival is a “poorly run event” and has “deep concerns” about crowd risks. He said the annual carnival was “not run by experts in event management” and feared a “mass fatality event” through crushing, like the Hillsborough disaster. Sir Mark was speaking during a meeting of the London Policing Board , externalat City Hall on Thursday. The organisers, Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, have said they had “experts from all areas of event organisation” and had 3,300 stewards this year to help manage crowds. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 Sir Mark said he had “complete support” for the event but was “deeply concerned” about its safety, with an estimated one million people taking to the streets of west London. The commissioner said police should “only be at an event to deal with crime and disorder issues” and that the crowd management of any event was the responsibility of the event organisers. He added: “They struggle to discharge their responsibilities effectively and we try to rescue the situation. So we put in mitigations to try and reduce the risk of a Hillsborough-type event.” He said this was not an effective way to manage or police the carnival. His comments come after Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said the organisers “did not have enough stewards” on shift over the carnival weekend. ‘Not run by experts’ Sir Mark said: “With crime, it is less about the numbers than the severity. It was over 300 arrests, there were two murders at this year’s carnival and I think there were six other stabbings, and 60-70 weapons recovered. “This is a very different arrest profile to what you would see at even at the most difficult football matches or Glastonbury, or something like that,” he added. “Crime control is much harder because it’s a poorly run event. It’s not run by experts in event management in the way that most big events are.” He told the board that the Met had a “very positive” relationship with the event organisers and that officers had met with them, together with the local authorities, to work on a “reset” on the way carnival is organised. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, responded to the comments by telling the board: “It’s really important the commissioner airs his concerns.” He emphasised that the carnival was not run by City Hall nor by the Metropolitan Police. He told the board: “I’ve seen things (at carnival) that I can’t un-see and the commissioner has briefed me on things we can’t pretend we don’t know about. “We’ll be working with organisers to try and address these concerns,” he added. ‘Police had a negative impact’ The organisers of the carnival, Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, have said there are inaccuracies in the Met’s response. It says the carnival is overseen by a number of events management experts and safety advisers. In terms of crowd control, a spokesperson told the BBC: “We do not recognise any situation in which it was required for the police to be called in to help with crowd management.” They added: “When the police did take these actions, it was not always communicated across the organising team, which is vital to how the event runs. “And it was not done under consultation as was agreed in the event plan. When the police did act, it had a negative impact, causing greater crowding issues.” The spokesperson told the BBC: “We have lost the trust in the Metropolitan Police as a partner in the running of Notting Hill Carnival. Their ongoing rhetoric suggests they are not a co-operating partner.” Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Met calls for Carnival stand closure after assault
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Met calls for Carnival stand closure after assault Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo Police have called for a Notting Hill Carnival stand to be shut down after a party-goer had a glass bottle smashed over his head, documents state. The serious assault, which is under investigation by the Metropolitan Police, left the victim with “deep lacerations” across his neck, head, legs and right hand. Police said the incident took place “within the footprint” of Volcano Sound System’s setup on Faraday Road, west London, on the last day of the carnival in 2024 and has called for the stand’s licence to be revoked. Courtney White, who runs the sound system’s site, said none of his staff were involved in the incident. Kensington and Chelsea Council (RBKC) will review the licence on Thursday. According to documents shared with RBKC the incident took place when a drunken party-goer was refused entry to a VIP area by staff, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 It was claimed that while the man was being removed from the area, he was assaulted by two people who hit him over the head with a glass bottle. A statement from the Met said: “Following the two assaults, there appears to have been no attempt by [Mr White] or any member of staff or security to notify the police or ambulance service/St John’s Ambulance of the incident or injured victim.” Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s The document went on to say the police were called by a member of the public but when they arrived, neither Mr White nor his security or staff approached to explain what happened. Mr White was later interviewed under caution by investigating officers. He claimed the victim was thrown to the floor by someone who purchased a Volcano T-shirt prior to the carnival, and said no staff were involved in the incident. ‘No confidence’ The Met said Mr White’s handling of the incident was “completely unacceptable” and he or his staff should have called police or ambulance crews. Mr White was accused of breaching 13 conditions of his licence, including failure to train staff in the lead up to carnival. “The police have no confidence that Mr White is able to run a safe sound system going forward,” the force said. Mr White said it was “unfortunate” the Met had requested a licence review after what he described as a decade of “safely delivering a sound system experience to thousands of carnival goers”. He pledged to train staff and volunteers “via a reputable training provider”, increase the number of welfare stewards and stop selling Volcano-branded apparel. He said: “Whilst I can accept that the unfortunate incident was not managed well, after reflection and learning I believe that I have the ability to ensure I meet all licensing conditions as well as ensure additional plans are in place in the event of an incident or emergency.” Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR8YYeb4PMk Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol