'Cancelling Carnival won't stop knife crime'

TJ Jacobs (left) and Vyleen Maximen are now raising Cher's daughter

The family of Cher Maximen, who was killed at the Notting Hill Carnival, have called for more to be done to tackle the underlying causes of knife crime, and said cancelling the event would do nothing to stop violence.

On Friday, Shakeil Thibou, 20, from Kensington in west London, was jailed for life for her murder with a minimum term of 29 years.

The killing led to renewed scrutiny of the annual event, but Ms Maximen's relatives say it should spark a wider conversation about youth violence and community safety, adding that the carnival is "not what killed her".

BBC News has contacted organisers Notting Hill Carnival Ltd for comment.

The Notting Hill Carnival takes place over two days over the August Bank Holiday along a three-and-a-half mile (5.6km) route in north Kensington and has been running for more than 50 years.

TJ Jacobs, who is the godmother to Cher's daughter, said that cancelling the event would not stop knife crime but that "everyone has some responsibility".

"Carnival absolutely has to look at itself and I understand the unique reason why carnival was set up for people of Caribbean heritage," she said.

Bristol-born Cher Maximen was described by loved ones as "fearless and adventurous"

"That doesn't take away from the fact that in some parts it can be quite dangerous."

She said the event's organisers should look at issues of safety and address them in order to stop it "fuelling a narrative" around the entire festival.

"For the focus purely to be on Carnival takes away from the fact we've watched several people get stabbed in the last 18 months who weren't at Carnival," Ms Jacobs added.

"What we're saying is, we don't want anyone else to experience losing a loved one to knife crime. So it makes no sense to focus on Carnival, because we recognise that's not what killed Cher."

A spokesperson for organisers Notting Hill Carnival Ltd previously said those carrying out violence "have nothing to do with Notting Hill Carnival and its values".

The carnival has celebrated London's Caribbean communities for over five decades

Cher's grandmother, Vyleen Maximen agreed, but said that although she had once really enjoyed attending the event, she did worry about safety, particularly over the large numbers of people on the streets.

"This is just my thoughts... I personally think it should be in a park, that's my opinion," she said.

"If the genuine opinion is, we all appreciate the value, the heritage, the importance of Carnival, then it deserves a conversation," added Ms Jacobs. "To really look at, how do we safeguard those who come here just to have a good time?"

In 2023, the organisers said in response to calls for it to be moved: "The Notting Hill Carnival belongs on the streets of Notting Hill and moving it will not eliminate the issues our community suffered this year."

Notting Hill Carnival attracts about two million revellers every year

Including Cher Maximen, two people were killed during the 2024 event. Chef Mussie Imnetu, 41, was repeatedly punched and kicked and left to die near the carnival area.

Last year's event saw eight stabbings in total, according to Metropolitan Police data.

The figures, which range from 2017 to 2024, show that 2019 saw the highest number of stabbings at 18 with none fatal.

One fatal stabbing was recorded at the 2022 carnival after father-to-be Takayo Nembhard, 21, was killed.

A report into the event by the London Assembly's Police and Crime committee published in April noted major concerns about crowd sizes and police resourcing.

Giving evidence the committee in September 2024, the Met's Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: "While we acknowledge the crime often gets the headlines, the thing that worries me most is the crowd density and the potential for a mass casualty event."

London assembly member, and one-time mayoral candidate, Susan Hall has advocated moving the carnival to Hyde Park.

At the publication of the report by the committee, which she chairs, Ms Hall said there have been "a number of incredibly worrying incidents with crowd density" at the carnival.

She raised concerns about the Metropolitan Police's ability "to keep visitors safe or to respond to any incidents that occur".

The organisers have said they use "experts from all areas of event organisation" and had 3,300 stewards on duty in 2024 to help manage crowds.

Cllr Sarah Addenbrooke, lead member for communities at Kensington and Chelsea Council, said: "Our thoughts are with Cher Maximen's family as they continue to deal with their devastating loss.

"Notting Hill Carnival is a space for community cohesion and a global celebration of diversity and Caribbean culture. It is a valued event, enjoyed peacefully and safely by so many people."

Ms Jacobs asked people to think of Cher's daughter in discussions around the event. "No one else's story is more important than that," she added.