David Vance SubstackRead More
Should “the biggest multicultural festival” in the West be banned? I’m talking about the Notting Hill Festival, of course, and I think the answer is unambiguously YES!
The Notting Hill Carnival, retailed by renowned political clowns like London’s Muslim Mayor Sadiq Khan, as “a vibrant celebration of Caribbean culture” should be banned for many good reasons including persistent safety concerns, shocking crime rates, and a significant strain on public resources. Let’s take a look at these, shall we?
The best place to start is the carnival’s crime stats which really are staggering. Since 2000, criminal offences have surged by 200%, with arrests increasing by 160%. Last year, the Metropolitan Police reported 349 arrests and 53 assaults on emergency workers during the two-day event. It also aw a young mother murdered in broad daylight and another man beaten to death, alongside eight separate stabbings.
“Caribbean culture’?
Over 500 police officers have been physically assaulted since 2016. This underscores the event’s descent into violent chaos, making it a magnet for “lawless youths”.
Let’s also remember that the risk of a major public safety disaster looms large. The Metropolitan Police and the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee have both repeatedly warned of a potential “mass casualty event” due to high crowd density and inadequate stewarding. With approximately two million attendees, the event’s scale overwhelms organisers, who rely on a small group of volunteers. It’s unsafe.
Senior police officials, including the commissioner, have noted near-misses resembling the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, which killed 97 people. The lack of effective crowd control indicates that a catastrophe has been avoided by chance rather than robust planning.
Finally, the financial burden on taxpayers is off the scale. The carnival’s cost has risen by 380% since 2000, with an estimated £80 million projected over the next five years. Khan has increased taxpayer funding by 1000% since 2016, despite no significant reforms to address safety or crime issues. This contrasts sharply with cuts to London’s police services, which strain resources further.
If you read what ordinary police officers say about the policing of it, they dread it. Although I have many criticisms of the Met, I do feel for these officers. They are in an impossible position and they know it.
Notting Hill may be a cutesy artsy movie with Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts but the annual festival is a gangsters paradise!
