The Notting Hill Carnival should become an admission-based event to prevent violent crime, says former …

September 1, 2024, 08:55 am | Updated: September 1, 2024, 09:03 am

To prevent violent crime, tickets should be required for the Notting Hill Carnival in the future, a former Metropolitan Police detective said.

Peter Bleksley also called for a “relocation of the carnival” to a location like Hyde Park to make the annual London event “better monitored” and “safer”.

Police had previously confirmed that a 32-year-old mother and a tourist had died in separate attacks while attending the event last weekend.

Cher Maximen, 32, was at the event with her child last Sunday when she was stabbed. She died Saturday morning, police confirmed.

Mussie Imnetu, a chef visiting London from Dubai, was found unconscious near Notting Hill on Monday evening and succumbed to his injuries on Friday evening, police said.

With both deaths being treated as murder investigations, former Metropolitan Police and Scotland Yard investigator Mr Bleksley told LBC that introducing a paid carnival event would help prevent this type of crime.

He said: “I do not want to ban carnival under any circumstances – quite the opposite… But this crime, this bloodshed must stop.”

“In my view, the best thing would be to move the event to another location, perhaps Hyde Park. Make it a ticketed event and hold it in an area that is better policed ​​and safer. Then just try to stop this bloodshed.”

Former detective Peter Bleksley calls for 'repositioning' of Notting Hill Carnival

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Mr Bleksley called on London Mayor Sadiq Khan to intervene, after he had previously taken the same step at other high-profile events in the capital.

The former Met detective said: “He (Sadiq Khan) sold the tickets for the New Year's Eve fireworks display. This sets a precedent for issuing tickets for a major event with hundreds of thousands of visitors in London, thereby increasing scrutiny over the event.”

Data from the Met on Carnival shows that there have been 62 stabbings at the six events since 2017 (inclusive).

In addition to the fatal stabbing of Ms Maximen, police confirmed on Tuesday that there had been seven other stabbings and 61 cases of attacks on officers.

Regarding the attacks on officers, the statement said: “The attacks mostly involved kicks, punches or shoves. There were four incidents in which officers were spat at, two in which officers were headbutted and two in which officers were pelted with glass bottles.”

Following the two fatal incidents at this year's event, Detective Chief Inspector Alex Gammampila of the Metropolitan Police's Homicide Squad said: “Cher was at the carnival with her young child.

“We have been in close contact with our partners in local authorities and Cher's family since shortly after this incident to ensure the child is safe and cared for.”

Shakiel Thibou, 20, of Masbro Road, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with attempted murder of Ms Maximen.

He appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday morning and was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on September 25.

Police said that “the offence is being reviewed in light of Cher's death in conjunction with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).”

In relation to Mr Imnetu, Omar Wilson, 31, of Leytonstone, was charged earlier this week with causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday and was remanded in custody to appear at Southwark Crown Court on September 27.

His case is also being reviewed by the CPS, the Met said.