Met Police concerned over Notting Hill Carnival steward funds
Concerns about the Notting Hill Carnival have been raised by both a police officers' group and Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, with questions over safety funding for extra stewards.Simon Hill of the Metropolitan Police Federation said none of the front-line officers he spoke to looked forward to working at the event, and were concerned there could be a deadly crush due to crowd size.Carnival chairman Ian Comfort has requested more funding from the government to steward the event and address safety concerns.A report by Sir Mark for the London Policing Board said force bosses were "significantly concerned" that funding for extra stewards for the event would not be in place in time.
'Handful of criminals'
Referring to phase one of a review commissioned by organisers that looked at crowd safety and stewarding, the report said: "We are however significantly concerned that with just a matter of weeks to go until this year's event that the essential funding has not been secured and, with each week that passes, the ability to successfully implement the Phase One recommendations becomes more challenging as event management companies will be hesitant to take on an event at such short notice without a sufficient lead-in time."About 7,000 Metropolitan Police officers are deployed to each day of the August Bank Holiday event. The cost of policing Carnival in 2023 was £11.7m, according to figures released under Freedom of Information legislation.Mr Hill said officers were "as worried this year as they were last year and the year before" about working at the event."Nobody that I speak to actually looks forward to working Notting Hill Carnival, which is a real shame, because it's a vibrant event, it's an important event," he said."We should enjoy interacting with the public and serving the community in it, but you have a handful of criminals who turn up to the event and just cause carnage."We had two murders [last year], 60-odd of my colleagues on average are getting assaulted every carnival, it's been going on for years and it's not acceptable."
He said the size of the area for the event should expand or the number of people attending should be reduced."Everyone accepts it's an unsafe event. Why is it still going on?" he added.Sir Mark told LBC the event organisers were asking for "a couple of million pounds" to keep festivalgoers safe.Asked about the average 60 officers who are injured he said: "The criminals who turn up to this event are really violent and very difficult, and, frankly, fighting crime in a confined area where the crowds are so crushed is doubly difficult," he said."If the organisers were given the resources to run it better, we'd be able to do a better job fighting crime, and our officers would be at less risk." Two people were murdered at the carnival last year - Cher Maximen, who was killed in front of her three-year-old daughter, and chef Mussie Imnetu.
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BBC News
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'Disturbing' case of body in locker on 24 Hours in Police Custody
Warning: This article contains spoilers about the documentary. A grisly murder enquiry that began as a missing person report will feature in a fly-on-the-wall TV documentary that follows a real police body of Annette Smith from Stotfold, Bedfordshire, was discovered in a suitcase concealed in a storage locker in May 2024.24 Hours in Police Custody follows "one of Bedfordshire Police's most harrowing investigations" across the first two episodes of the new Channel 4 Ch Insp Katie Dounias said the crime "shook the community" and highlighted "some of the most complex aspects of modern-day policing". The double bill, entitled "The Butcher of Suburbia", tracks the case after Ms Smith was reported missing in January 2024 by her lodger, Scott told police she had "left with a friend", so detectives did not investigate until a family member reported her missing in then 45, had been living rent-free in Ms Smith's spare room in exchange for company and running errands. They were friends and had gone on holiday together, but he became her carer after she had a later transpired that he had covered up her disappearance for months, using her email account to send Christmas messages and e-cards to family and friends."This was a really interesting case, because we didn't know it was a murder at the beginning and it was only over time it became that," said the programme's executive producer Simon Ch Insp Dounias said it was "a particularly disturbing case" that required "meticulous work" by detectives."We were trying to work out where Annette was and what happened to her. It's painstaking. There's lots of detail we need to trawl through," she said. In an unexpected twist, Ms Smith's killer calmly confesses to the crime during a police interview."When he was arrested he did not want a solicitor, and you kind of think at that point, is he going to confess or tell us what happened?" said Det Ch Insp Dounias."And then there's a feeling almost of - I don't like to use the word excitement because it sounds sensational - but it's excitement, because actually we might find Annette. "He might tell us where she is and we can try and repatriate her with her family and allow her a burial," she Ford also spoke about the key interview. "We are used to filming these cases where somebody has a solicitor and nine times out of of 10 there will be 'no comment' interview. "But if someone is going to to comment from the beginning, it's always going to be more interesting," he said. 24 Hours in Police Custody: The Butcher Of Suburbia starts Sunday 29 June at 21:00 BST on Channel 4, and concludes on Monday 30 June. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Leicester Church of England: A preacher asked me out and then started stalking me
It seemed like a harmless was the summer of 2021, and Jay Hulme, a volunteer at St Nicholas Church in Leicester, was on the door, welcoming people. That's when Venessa walked in."There was something awkward about her," he recalls. "But I assumed it was about being in a new church with new people, and we were just coming out of the pandemic. There was no red flag."Venessa Pinto, employed by the Leicester diocese of the Church of England as a lay preacher - a non-ordained person who can lead worship - returned a few more times to Jay's church.A few weeks later, they both happened to be at a midweek service in Leicester Cathedral. When it was over, she approached him and asked to speak privately. They stepped into the quiet of the old cathedral she asked him out."I was very taken aback, because I didn't know her. And I was like, 'I'm gay, but thank you for asking.' But she asked me if it was because she was black."Jay was startled by the question. He gently reiterated that he could not go out on a date because he was gay - and also not in the right place for a relationship."I left it thinking, 'That was very awkward', but I think, 'That's the end of that.'"It wasn' fact, it was the beginning of a devastating campaign of stalking and harassment. And when Jay complained, the highest authority in the Church in Leicester - a top contender to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury - said he didn't believe him. Instead, he accused Jay of witchcraft. 'Vile man' That summer, Jay Hulme, then in his mid-twenties, was at a very happy juncture in his life. He was a poet and author, an assistant warden at the LGBT-friendly St Nicholas Church and known on social media for his love of church buildings and was exploring his Christian faith and considering the possibility of training to become a priest in the coming years."I'm also trans, I'd come out a number of years before, and I'd finally come to a place of full and complete happiness with who I was. I saw my future unfurling before me in a way that had felt impossible before," he being rejected, Venessa, also then in her mid-twenties, sent Jay a series of "angry and accusatory" messages, saying he was gossiping about her. Though he tried to reassure her he wasn't, she was try to resolve things, Jay agreed to a demand from her to meet. He had been determined that the meeting happened outside in public but a heavy rainstorm meant they ended up inside, alone together at her place of says she yelled at him, telling him he was a liar, a racist and an awful person - demanding an apology over and over again without telling him what he was supposed to have Jay stopped interacting with Venessa and avoided her when she continued to come to his church. But then he started to get messages from anonymous online accounts which could be seen by his social media followers. Jay quickly worked out the author was Venessa. She even sent him an email from her personal account apologising for what she described as the "pain" she'd the nastiness online escalated, with Venessa publicly making false allegations and threats. Jay was concerned for his safety. He reported the harassment to Leicestershire Police. He says he didn't want Venessa prosecuted at that point - just for the abuse to he heard nothing back and the abuse continued relentlessly. Each time he blocked an account, another would spring up. Jay felt he had no way of escaping it."I felt like she was in my pocket, and in my house, and in my brain all of the time, saying these horrendous things and I couldn't get away," he needed to stay online because of his writing and speaking commitments. But he was beginning to lose contracts. He suspects that was because of the allegations about him weeks after reporting it, the police did visit Venessa. The outcome was far from satisfactory for Jay."She told the officer that it was her friends who were sending the messages, and the officer told her to tell them to stop. I was told by the police that I should just delete my social media," he says he got the impression the police did not appreciate the seriousness of the abuse because it was online. Stalker books onto same retreat The police visit triggered even more angry messages from then started assembling a powerful body of evidence, now on a mission to prove the messages had not been sent by Venessa's friends, but by Venessa compiled a detailed spreadsheet setting out the connections between the numerous anonymous accounts which had sent abuse or posted allegations about him. They all led back to lost faith in the police, Jay handed all this evidence to the Church of England, which promised to investigate his formal he waited, he thought he would get some respite by going to a silent Jesuit retreat in rural Wales. Days later, a colleague told him Venessa had booked to go to the very same had booked last minute and says there were not many slots left. "It's in the middle of nowhere. As far as I'm concerned there is no way that could have happened naturally."Jay left the retreat just hours before Venessa arrived. It left him terrified, feeling the stalking had now gone beyond the confines of the internet. Accused of witchcraft Finally, there was some positive news for in Leicester, the Church HR investigation concluded Venessa had been responsible for the abuse, to Jay's huge relief. He assumed that would be the end of almost as soon as that happened, there was an unexpected was called into a meeting with the Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow - who's seen as a favourite to become the next Archbishop of Canterbury, leader of the Church of England. Jay thought Venessa was going to lose her job. But it turned out the bishop had conducted his own investigation."I go in and the bishop sits down with this thick folder on his knee. And he begins to question me about my complaint. He actually states that 'It's he said, she said'."The bishop said he didn't believe that Venessa had been responsible for the harassment. And he wouldn't uphold Jay's complaint against he made an extraordinary accusation about Jay."Somebody had given a statement that I had been seen in the church, in the darkness, with a candle – and they thought I was conducting a seance. For clarity, I was praying with a candle in the dark, because that's a thing that Christians do," says got Snow accused him of practising witchcraft - both because of the "seance" and the fact Jay happened to have a close friend who was a tarot card reader."It felt like an enormous gut punch. These made-up allegations were being presented to me by a person with the power of a bishop, in a meeting which I suddenly realised I had no control over," says Jay."She [Venessa] had somehow managed to make a bishop become part of her stalking campaign of harassment and threats, and use his power and position, and I couldn't believe it was happening."Jay says he was told Venessa would not lose her licence to preach, but he would be punished. He says Bishop Snow told him the process to begin his training for priesthood – something he decided he wanted to pursue – would be "slowed down".Jay was devastated. He went home feeling trapped. And after the complaint was dismissed, more messages were posted."Really horrific things, saying that I raped children, that I stole money, that I was a racist, a bully. She created fake accounts that were me saying really racist things and would then screenshot them and share those things," he Snow suggested to Jay that his allegations were not in keeping with Venessa's character. But Jay soon learned he wasn't the only person affected by Venessa's behaviour. Complaints 'from 30 people' A colleague who worked closely with Venessa, Kat Gibson, had been complaining about her for more than a year before the campaign against Jay says Venessa was unpredictable and adversarial in the extreme. "I was just really scared when I was around her, thinking, 'what's she going to explode at me for this time?' with these explosive angry outbursts that I can't prevent."She adds that as the months went on, "around 30 people" from eight churches approached her to informally complain about Venessa's behaviour. She calls the issue an "open secret" but one that managers felt unable to a joint statement, Kat's manager, Lusa Nsenga Ngoy - now a bishop in London - and Leicester Diocese said pastoral support and counselling were offered to those affected. The Church of England says Kat's complaints were treated with care and seriousness. She was a lay preacher in Leicester, but Venessa soon gained increasing prominence on a national 2022, several months into her stalking campaign against Jay Hulme, she was elected onto the Church of England's national assembly – the General after, she was one of just a handful of people from Synod appointed to the Crown Nominations Commission, a panel that selects new bishops and archbishops. But all the while, she was sending countless sinister messages to Jay. The online harassment from Venessa now included extreme pornographic content posted on his social media. Then she tweeted Jay's went to the police a second time, but again felt no sense of urgency."There was a period where every night, I would wake up screaming because I dreamed that I was being murdered by Venessa. I had extra locks put on my door," Jay says. Apologies and conviction Though there appeared to be inaction, behind the scenes the Church was clearly starting to realise it had a problem on its Jay had been told in summer 2022 that a Leicester Diocese investigation found Venessa had been responsible for Jay's harassment, he was also told that the Bishop of Leicester decided quite the BBC has now learned that shortly before that, the bishop did tell Venessa to step back from ministry because of "her behaviour", though it is not known what this refers also later revoked her licence to preach, after what's described as "new evidence" coming to light. The diocese also suggested she go on none of these things were made public and did not stop the unrelenting stalking of Jay. All of a sudden, in late 2022, Leicester Diocese announced Venessa would be said she would "pursue other opportunities" and thanked her for the positive contributions she had this appeared to have no impact on the hate-filled barrages coming Jay's way."I wrote my own will because…I felt that I'd been let down by the police, I'd been let down by the diocese and as far as I was concerned, this would continue until one of us died," he desperation, in December 2022 he went to the police March 2023, 21 months after the stalking campaign against Jay began (and eight months after the Bishop of Leicester told Jay he did not believe him) the police finally took action against Venessa."I get a phone call from Leicestershire Police [who] basically acknowledged that they made a mess of it. And very soon Venessa was arrested. Her devices were confiscated," says a statement, Leicestershire Police acknowledged their initial response fell short of the standards expected, adding it continued "to develop its knowledge and training in relation to preventing and detecting stalking offences".By the end of 2023, Venessa had been charged. In May 2024 she pleaded guilty to stalking, involving serious distress or harm and was given an 18-month community order and banned from contacting Jay for a year. After Venessa's conviction, Jay asked for a meeting with the Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow, who now apologised. "He did acknowledge in some way his own part in it and that he should have done better, and I agree," says Diocese told us it took legal advice and is confident it followed HR practice and due process in handling Jay's complaint. But wouldn't say why it did not sack Venessa for months after concluding she had sent the messages to Jay.A spokesperson for the Church of England says they are "appalled by the serious criminal behaviour that led to Venessa Pinto's conviction."Venessa's colleague Kat Gibson was recently made redundant from her post in Leicester. She says she's much better, physically and mentally, and is pleased to be out of Church of England employment. 'Everybody failed to protect me' And what of Venessa Pinto? Having carried out her community service and abided by the restraining order, she is once again preaching – and has also done missionary work in a statement to the BBC she said one aspect of the court case in particular changed everything for her."Reading [Jay's] victim impact statement brought into sharp focus the pain I caused and strengthened my resolve to take responsibility and make amends," Venessa says."I acknowledge the seriousness of my past conduct and do not seek to diminish its impact. I have moved forward in my life and hope those affected in Leicester and elsewhere can find it in their hearts to allow space for healing and growth," she while Venessa admits to the harassment she was convicted of, she denies some other allegations, including the frequent angry outbursts Kat and others reported. In fact she says accusations of aggressive behaviour were never formally raised with her in says she was going through a difficult period and was struggling with her mental health during her time in Leicester. Her targeting of Jay has left him scarred. He struggles to open his email for fear of what he'll find and he says his finances have been destroyed by years of sporadic work."I feel that everybody failed to protect me. I almost feel like I was naive that when the police failed to protect me, I thought the Church, which talks about safeguarding, [would]," says Jay."It fails because people are scared to do the right thing. In James, my favourite book of the Bible, there's a bit that says that anybody who knows the right thing and fails to do it, commits sin. And that's the problem at the heart of this Church." A list of organisations in the UK offering support and information with some of the issues in this story is available at BBC Action Line
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE 'I will never forget the screams': Brits in Essex park 'heaving with families' reveal moment seven-year-old girl was killed and four other children were injured as tree branch came crashing down on top of them
Brits in an Essex park 'heaving with families' have spoken out about the terrifying moment a falling tree killed a seven-year-old girl and injured four other children. A six-year-old girl, who was also caught underneath the tree when it collapsed, is in a critical condition in hospital. Three other children were taken to hospital with minor injuries in the horror incident in Chalkwell Park in Southend, Essex, at 3pm today. One witness said he would 'never forget the screams' of the children involved, as he described seeing a tree 'split and fall to the ground'. And speaking exclusively to MailOnline, another witness, long-time Southend resident Adam Ramet, 54, described the incident as 'absolutely dreadful'. The piano showroom owner, whose business is just by the park in the resort town's Westcliff-on-Sea area, said: 'It's a tragedy. 'The park was absolutely heaving with families and kids this afternoon. 'People are taking gazebos and they're having picnics, there's two playgrounds there and it was just full of people. 'It's not like this was a quiet bit in the back of the local woods or anything. 'It's literally right next to the basketball courts and the tennis and everything so all sorts of people would have literally been yards away from it when it happened. 'They're all young kids who are just playing around, running over the grass underneath the tree like everybody has done when they were a kid in that park. 'It's a park that if you're local, you grew up there, it's part of your life. 'There would have been lots of people and families there, there would have been lots of people who've been very seriously traumatised.' Mr Ramet told MailOnline he spoke to a neighbour who was there when the awful incident occurred. 'He'd just walked under the tree one minute before', he explained. 'It came crashing down and he, with three other guys, immediately ran and tried to move all the fallen branches. 'He said one girl was killed [instantly] outright and at least four others were badly injured. 'Everybody else just stood around and nobody did anything. 'He helped roll this giant [branch] off a girl who's just literally crushed by it.' Mr Ramet continued: 'Quite a bit of [the tree] came down, it seems like one of the boughs came down and maybe smashed another two or three on the way down. 'You can see a lot of trunks and things on the floor in the distance. 'It looks to me like the whole top of the tree has come down from what I can see.' He said he did not realise what had happened until about an hour later, when he headed out on a walk and saw an 'awful lot of police cars and ambulances' and police tape. The long-time Southend resident said: 'I know that tree - it's a huge cedar tree. The branches are thicker than a human being. 'It's not little branches [that have] come down. Each branch is the size of a proper thick tree trunk, it's huge. 'The tree is very, very iconic and it's right next to the old manor house in the middle of the park. 'It must be at least 200 years old by the look of it, at least, certainly as old as the house in the park [Chalkwell Hall]. 'I'm 54, I've known it since I was a toddler, you can see it in old Edwardian postcards, it's been there that long.' A spokesperson for Essex Police said: 'A child has sadly died and another is in a critical condition in hospital following an incident at a park in Southend. 'Shortly before 3pm on Saturday, June 28, it was reported a tree had partially collapsed in Chalkwell Park. 'A number of children were caught beneath the tree and suffered injuries. The park was busy with members of the public and many immediately went to their aid.' Six ambulances, two air ambulances, firefighters and police officers rushed to the scene in the Essex park just before 3pm today. It is understood the incident happened near the park's rose garden as well as the manor house Chalkwell Hall, which sits within its grounds. David Burton-Sampson, MP for Southend West and Leigh, said: 'The news of the sad death of one of the children involved in the incident at Chalkwell Park today is truly devastating. 'I am sure I reflect the thoughts of all our residents here in Southend in sending my deepest condolences to the child's family and friends. 'My thoughts are also with the other children injured and I wish them a full and speedy recovery. 'At the time of the incident the park was very busy and a number of people witnessed what happened. 'I understand that this must have been deeply traumatising and I encourage residents to use the support available to help them.' The spokesperson for Essex Police continued: 'Enquiries are continuing at the park and an investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances around this incident. 'The majority of the park remains open, but we would continue to ask the public to avoid the clearly cordoned off areas. 'We are in the process of setting up a public portal for people with concerns or information around this incident to reach out to us. 'An update around this will be issued in the coming days.' Chief Superintendent Leighton Hammett said: 'Families are facing unimaginable hardship this evening and all of our thoughts are with them at this time. 'I cannot begin to put into words how difficult today's events have been, and continue to be, for them. 'It's also not lost on me how traumatic it must have been for the members of the public who witnessed this awful incident. 'Across a matter of moments, many of them went from enjoying the warm summer weather to rushing to the aid of strangers without a second thought. 'They showed the best of Southend today and I'm sorry this update does not bring them more positive news. 'My officers, and our partners with the ambulance and fire service, did all they could to help the two injured children. 'Today's loss is one they will all take personally. 'We will ensure support is in place for all of our emergency service responders who provided aid at the scene.' A spokesperson for Southend-on-Sea City Council has said it is 'deeply saddened' after the 'tragic incident' which saw a tree 'partially collapsed in a busy part of the park'. Councillor Daniel Cowan, leader of the council, said: 'The death of a child is devastating and my deepest, most heartfelt condolences are with the child's family and friends. 'My thoughts are also with the injured children and those on the scene. I hope the other children make a full and speedy recovery. 'This was a traumatic event for those involved, those who witnessed the incident, and the emergency services. I encourage those affected to seek support.' Southend's mayor, Councillor Nigel Folkard, said: 'I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of a young life following the incident in Chalkwell Park today. 'As both Mayor and a Chalkwell councillor, my thoughts are with the child's family, friends, and all those affected. 'I ask our community to come together in support and compassion during this incredibly difficult time.' An East of England Ambulance spokesperson previously told MailOnline: 'We were called at 2.55pm to reports that a tree had fallen in Chalkwell Park in Westcliff-on-Sea. 'Six ambulances, three ambulance officer vehicles, the London Air Ambulance and Kent Air Ambulance were sent to the scene. 'Two children were transported by road to Southend University Hospital. 'A further three children were later transported to the same hospital with minor injuries.' An Essex County Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: 'We are at the scene of a serious incident in Chalkwell Park working with ambulance and police colleagues. 'We were called just before 3pm today to reports of a large fallen tree. There have been a number of casualties and our work is ongoing. 'Our Urban Search and Rescue Team is in attendance alongside firefighters and officers. 'We would ask the public to avoid the area while our work continues.' A spokesperson for Southend County Council has said: 'We are aware of a serious incident at Chalkwell Park and are working closely with Essex Police, the ambulance service and fire service, who remain at the scene. 'We understand that a tree has fallen and that there are a number of casualties. 'We ask the public to avoid the area while emergency services carry out their work. 'Our thoughts are with all those affected and we will provide further updates as soon as possible.'
