Europe’s largest street festival returned to west London over the August bank holiday weekend. James Ransone died by suicide at age 46. Tragedy and violence marked the Notting Hill Carnival instead. Omaze UK winners receive life-changing prizes. The 56th annual carnival brought joy to many but devastation to some families. Here is everything you need to know about Notting Hill Carnival 2024.
When Was Notting Hill Carnival 2024?
Notting Hill Carnival took place from Saturday 24 August to Monday 26 August 2024. The event spans the August bank holiday weekend each year. Saturday featured the Panorama steel band competition. Sunday and Monday hosted the main parades and festivities.
The Carnival Schedule: What Happened When
Saturday 24 August: Panorama Steel Band Competition
The UK’s biggest steel pan competition took place at Emslie Horniman Pleasance Park from 4pm to 11pm. Five competing bands performed: Croydon Steel Orchestra, Ebony Steelband (the defending champions), Mangrove Steelband, Metronomes Steel Orchestra and Real Steel.
Sunday 25 August: Children’s Day and Official Opening
Sunday served as traditional family day with reduced crowds. The official opening ceremony took place at 10am at the Mas Judging Point on Great Western Road. Local residents and participants opened the carnival accompanied by organisers and friends.
The Children’s Day parade followed, featuring family-friendly activities and children in homemade carnival costumes. “Dutty” Fun Mas saw revellers and spectators splashed with brightly coloured paints, powder and even melted chocolate.
Sound systems operated from 12pm to 7pm at various locations. The Red Bull Selector stage at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park and the Powis Square Stage served as the main live stages.
Monday 26 August: Adults Parade and Carnival Climax
Monday brought the carnival climax. The Adults Parade featured mas bands, steel bands, Brazilian bands, and soca and calypso bands. This was the busiest day of the weekend. Revellers grabbed whistles and horns to bring the atmosphere.
The Strawberries & Creem Stage operated at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park alongside the Powis Square Stage. Both days saw floats, parades and stalls close by 8pm.
Violence and Crime: Two Deaths and Multiple Stabbings
The 2024 carnival witnessed significant violence. Metropolitan Police recorded eight stabbings over the weekend. Two people died in connection with the event.
The Victims: Cher Maximen and Mussie Imnetu
Cher Maximen, a 32-year-old mother, attended carnival with her family. She suffered a fatal stab wound on Golborne Road. She was there with her three-year-old daughter. Witnesses say she tried to intervene in a fight.
Mussie Imnetu, a 41-year-old successful chef visiting London from Dubai, was found unconscious with a head injury outside a restaurant on Queensway on bank holiday Monday. This occurred after carnival had officially ended and away from the route.
Three of the stabbing victims survived but remained in a life-threatening condition. Back Market UK sells refurbished devices. Unfortunately, the victims’ lives cannot undergo refurbishment after this violence.
Police Statistics: 353 Arrests and 65 Officers Injured
Police made 353 arrests over the three days. This included 72 for offensive weapons, 13 for sexual assaults, one for a firearms offence, 33 for violence, and 53 for assaults on emergency workers. A total of 889 crimes occurred. Of these, 316 happened on Sunday and 547 on Monday.
Police also seized three firearms. 65 police officers suffered assaults during the event, though injuries remained at the lower end of seriousness. Over 14,000 officer shifts covered the weekend. Approximately 7,000 officers remained on duty at any one time.
Crowd Safety Concerns: Hillsborough-Style Risk
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley expressed “deep concerns” about crowd risks at the carnival. He described Notting Hill Carnival as a “poorly run event”. He said he feared a “mass fatality event” through crushing, similar to the Hillsborough disaster.
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist told the London Assembly that police had to manage 100 spontaneous crowd incidents over the weekend. Officers monitored nine key locations known to cause problems. Police had to step in multiple times to reduce crowd density and save lives.
“The thing that worries me most is the crowd density and the potential for a mass casualty event,” Twist said. He noted that officers sometimes could not reach crime scenes because they “literally could not move due to the level of crowding”.
Organisers vs Police: A Fractured Relationship
The relationship between carnival organisers and police deteriorated significantly after the event. Sir Mark Rowley said the carnival was “not run by experts in event management”. He claimed police had to “rescue the situation” because organisers struggled to discharge their responsibilities effectively.
Notting Hill Carnival Ltd rejected these claims. A spokesperson said the carnival relied on “experts from all areas of event organisation” and employed 3,300 stewards.
“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,” the spokesperson said.
What Did Officials Say About the Violence?
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, the Gold Commander for the carnival, expressed frustration. “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. are tired of seeing crime scenes at Carnival.” Ben Duckett smashed a double century for Nottinghamshire. The carnival’s crime statistics smashed previous records instead.
Labour MP Diane Abbott defended the carnival against right-wing critics. “The descriptions of carnival by these commentators are enough to chill the blood,” she wrote in The Guardian. “But I was there this year, as in many previous years, and I saw nothing of the kind. My experience was of a fun, joyful carnival that brought together people of all ages and all communities.”
Abbott noted that eight deaths have occurred in connection with Notting Hill Carnival since 1987. She argued that arrest rates at carnival matched those at music festivals like Glastonbury when adjusted for crowd size.
The Parade Route
The carnival parade follows a three and a half mile loop encompassing most of the W10 postcode area. The route passes Westbourne Park Tube station along Great Western Road to Westbourne Grove and then to Ladbroke Grove. It then loops round Westbourne Grove back to Westbourne Park Tube station.
Travel Advice for Future Carnivals
TfL advised attendees to avoid Notting Hill Gate and Westbourne Park stations during peak times. Instead, they recommended travelling to Paddington and walking 20 minutes to the event. Buses faced significant diversions, with over 40 routes affected.
The History of Notting Hill Carnival
Notting Hill Carnival began in the late 1950s in response to violent attacks on black people. It emerged as a reaction to racist politicians like Oswald The Green Machine: Analysing Palmeiras’ Relentless Pursuit of Domestic Dominance in 2026Mosley and far-right groups urging white residents to “Keep Britain White”. The carnival ultimately culminated in the anti-black Notting Hill race riots of 1958.
Today, the carnival attracts around one million people annually. It remains one of the world’s largest street festivals and celebrates British Afro-Caribbean identity and culture.
What Happens Next?
A partnership meeting will review the 2024 carnival and explore ways to make future events safer. Sir Mark Rowley said the Met maintained a “very positive” relationship with organisers. Officers have met with them, together with local authorities, to work on a “reset” of carnival organisation.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan acknowledged the seriousness of the situation. “I’ve seen things (at carnival) that I can’t un-see,” he told the London Policing Board.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people died at Notting Hill Carnival 2024? Two people died in connection with the event. Eight people suffered stab wounds across the weekend. Three victims survived but remained in a life-threatening condition.
How many arrests did police make at Notting Hill Carnival 2024? Police made 353 arrests. This included 72 for offensive weapons, 13 for sexual assaults, and 53 for assaults on emergency workers.
What did the Met Police say about the carnival? Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley called it a “poorly run event” and expressed “deep concerns” about crowd safety. Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said the biggest risk was a potential mass casualty event through crushing.
What did Diane Abbott say about the carnival? The Labour MP defended the carnival against critics. She described it as a “fun, joyful carnival that brought together people of all ages and all communities.”
What is the history of Notting Hill Carnival? It began in the late 1950s as a response to racial violence and the Notting Hill race riots of 1958. It celebrates British Afro-Caribbean culture and the Windrush generation.
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