GMP and Manchester City Council Discuss Plans for a Safe and Well-Coordinated Manchester Caribbean Carnival

Delegates from Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council spoke with members of the media at an event in Manchester Central Library today. Discussions surrounded ongoing community engagement work in Moss Side and how plans are aligned to support the community and organisers with running a safe and well-coordinated Manchester Caribbean Carnival.

The annual event will commence at 7am on Saturday, 12^th August with a j’ouvert parade through Moss Side and into the main festival site in Alexandra Park where there will be live music, entertainment and food traders set up from 12-8pm over the weekend.

Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon said: “The Manchester Caribbean Carnival is one of the stand-out events on the city’s calendar, and it is one the Council is proud to support.

“Recognising and celebrating the importance and contribution of the Caribbean community is more important than ever given we have just marked the 75th anniversary of Empire Windrush’s arrival on our shores.

“The carnival is a family-friendly celebration of community, heritage, music and solidarity and we know the vast majority of people who attend embrace the spirit of the event.

“This year we will continue to encourage people to enjoy the licensed entertainment that organisers have worked tirelessly to arrange.”

Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council are working together with housing providers and event organisers to minimise disruptions to the local community following carnival.

A letter has been distributed to homes nearby Alexander Park and an engagement and consulting process is underway with local residents and groups in the area.

Feedback from Lived Experience Groups and other forums is improving Community Policing in Moss Side in a way that responds to the community's wants and needs.

This group was formulated in response to concerns about public safety surrounding previous events in the area, including the murder of 20-year-old Javell Morgan at a street party following Caribbean Carnival last year.

The first Lived Experienced Group session was delivered on 7 July 2023, which acted as a consultation and community engagement piece ahead of the Caribbean Carnival.

On 18 July a special Police and Communities Together meeting was held to deliver an overview of the police and community safety approach to this year’s Carnival.

GMP Chief Superintendent Rick Jackson said: “GMP is significantly increasing its policing operation surrounding the carnival, supporting partners to run a safe and well-coordinated event.

“We have been working with other police forces to develop intelligence around those who may attend carnival with the intention of causing issues and will be employing tactics, including intercept capability, to deter them from attending where we can.

“More officers will be deployed across a range of neighbourhood policing, licensing, public safety, traffic, mounted and other roles, which should provide visible reassurance to the community and deter people from committing criminal activity.

“Officers will have a policing style and tone which is appropriate to a range of organised and unorganised activities.

“Unlicensed after-parties, involving gatherings outdoors following the daytime organised Carnival events, cause unacceptable issues for our communities and unfortunately have witnessed criminal activity, violence, and antisocial behaviour.

“We ask the public to be respectful and not participate in these gatherings but instead enjoy the organised daytime Caribbean Carnival events.”