The issue of knife crime was addressed at the recent launch of London’s Notting Hill Carnival, where CEO Matthew Phillips emphasised initiatives aimed at fostering a positive environment and ensuring the safety of all attendees.
This appeal was made to a large audience at its headquarters, which included stakeholder representatives, the Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea, Councillor Tom Bennett, and Ian Comfort, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Carnival Village Trust (CVT), which runs the NHC Carnival.
As widely reported, the Notting Hill Carnival had faced financial challenges ahead of this year’s event. However, a last-minute effort by the Mayor of London, the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, and Westminster City Council secured the investment required for Carnival 2025 to take place.
The keynote speaker of the evening, Matthew Phillips, CEO of CVT, spoke about several initiatives that will take place at this year’s event. However, it was his focus on knife crime that caught the room’s attention, as he hoped to leverage the media attention surrounding Carnival to promote positive action.
“We can’t ignore the impact of knife crime on our event. The tragic deaths of Takayo Nembhard and Cher Maximen broke the hearts of their friends and families as well as our communities, and three years on, the family and friends of Takayo still don’t have justice. These young people didn’t lose their lives because of Carnival, Carnival is not the cause of this crisis, but it can be part of the solution…”
In 2024, the Metropolitan Police reported 16,789 offences involving knives, averaging more than forty-five incidents per day in the London area. This statistic highlights that knife crime remains a significant issue affecting communities throughout the year. While some associate Carnival with knife crime, there is no evidence to support this claim. The group’s goal is to leverage the media attention surrounding Carnival to promote positive action.
At 3 pm on both days of the Notting Hill Carnival, an important moment of reflection will be observed as all attendees are invited to join in a 72-second silence, a poignant tribute to the seventy-two lives tragically lost in the Grenfell Tower fire.
It will also be an opportunity to honour the memories of Takayo Nembhard, Cher Maximen, and Kelso Cochrane, a young Antiguan man whose life was tragically cut short in a racially motivated attack in Notting Hill in 1959. His death became a powerful symbol of racial injustice in Britain and inspired local communities to unite against hate. Kelso’s memory, one of the reasons Carnival was established, serves as a lasting reminder of the importance of spaces like Carnival, born from resistance, resilience, and unity.
CEO Phillip said, “… our community provides spaces for young people to learn skills, express themselves, make friends, and be around their peers and different generations. These spaces have the power to make a positive impact, offering hope and optimism for our youth. We are delighted that Carnival will once again transform the streets of West London into a celebration of music, dance, food, creativity, and tradition.”
In conclusion, he expresses his gratitude to the pioneers who laid the foundations for the Notting Hill Carnival, thanking them for their vision and courage as it has evolved into a vibrant tribute to heritage, freedom, and togetherness.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said that the Carnival contributes £400 million annually to the economy. But its actual value lies in the joy, inclusion, and identity it brings to communities.
