Notting Hill Carnival 2001

Report: 8
Date: 10 May 2001
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report has been prepared to update the Metropolitan Police Authority on the planning for the policing arrangements for the Notting Hill Carnival in August 2001.

A. Recommendation

Authority Members are asked to note the contents of this report.

B. Supporting information

Operational planning

1. The policing operation continues to be formulated in conjunction with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster City Council, Notting Hill Carnival Trust (NHCT) and the other emergency services. This is co-ordinated through the Safety Group Meeting chaired by Ms. Claire Holder.

2. Two new forums have been put in place to assist in the planning process. The first is the Gold Tasking Group meeting, which is held every two weeks to allow Commander Messinger (Gold) to discuss and review his strategy for policing the event. The group invites guests to the meetings to assist and to advise.

3. The second new forum is the Silver Strategy Meeting. This meeting is held at regular intervals and is chaired by Chief Superintendent Mackie (Silver). The purpose of the meeting is to allow him to meet the Bronze commanders regularly and for them to discuss how Commander Messinger's strategy is to be implemented.

4. The remainder of the planning structure is the same as outlined in the MPS report considered by the Metropolitan Police Authority at its meeting on 8 February 2001.

5. Chief Superintendent Mackie has now selected the Command Teams and they are now holding their own meetings to discuss the policing of their sectors. In doing so they review the numbers of officers to be deployed, they visit the sectors to see if there have been any structural changes to the area and they review what equipment and accommodation they need. They are also reviewing the proposed float entry and exit sites as well as trading sites.

Community involvement

6. A public meeting was held recently where members of the Royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster City Council, NHCT and the MPS discussed their plans and listened to the views put forward by members of the local community.

7. Various resident groups have had meetings to discuss the effect that Carnival has in their respective areas. Representatives of the MPS have attended the majority of these meetings giving, where posible, thorough updates of the planning progress.

Partnership involvement

8. The GLA interim report was received in March. There is agreement between the local authorities and NHCT that there should be no major change to the route this year. There is an acceptance that there will have to be a detailed review of the route and that the review should take note of the views of not only the major participants in the planning process, but also the views of the local community.

9. The main issue under discussion between the local authorities and NHCT is that of the management of the route. The local authorities wish to licence participating vehicles in an attempt to reduce the number of vehicles on the route and to speed up the close down time. NHCT does not agree with this proposed course of action.

10. Sponsorship for this year's carnival is causing difficulties as it has recently been anounced that Radio One and the BBC will not be attending Carnival this year.

11. The issue of stewarding has been discussed between the GLA and NHCT. It is possible that the GLA may provide funding for the stewards and some parts of the route management.

12. Representatives of all the Carnival disciplines – the steward and route managers, the NHCT board, local authorities, emergency services – and the London Assembly will take part in a three day seminar at Lane End, Buckinghamshire between 4 and 6 May 2001.

13. The objectives of the seminar are to review Carnival 2001and to develop strategies and operational policies in relation to the following:

• an effective management policy;
• the effective co-ordination of all agencies;
• the main Carnival process;
• the maintainance of a secure and comfortable environment for residents, the public and the Carnival participants and spectators;
• the long term future of Carnival within the streets of Notting Hill.

14. It is hoped that the seminar will make progress towards resolving some of the outstanding issues, including GLA funding, sponsorship, stewards and route marshal management, and responsibilities for public safety.

15. Brief details of the outcomes of the seminar will be provided to Members at the Authority meeting on 10 May 2001, by way of verbal update.

C. Financial implications

The policing costs for Notting Hill Carnival are estimated at about £3 million. This includes pay for all officers on duty at Carnival (normal rates and enhanced rates for working on the bank holiday), support service costs and year long planning costs.

D. Background papers

• Report to the Metropolitan Police Authority - Notting Hill carnival (initial report) - 14 September 2000
• Report to the Metropolitan Police Authority - Policing arrangements for the Notting Hill carnival 2001 -  8 February 2001

E. Contact details

The author of this report is David Fereday, Planning Sergeant, Carnival Unit.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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