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'Cancelling Carnival won't stop knife crime'

Sonja Jessup
BBC London home affairs correspondent
James W Kelly
BBC News
BBC TJ Jacobs, wearing a black t-shirt and a necklace, is sitting on a grey sofa next to Vyleen Maximen, who is wearing a mint green shirt, black belt and blue jeansBBC
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 ed 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.

Family handout Cher Maximen is pictured smiling at the camera. She is wearing a light green Adidas top with yellow stripes down the side. Her hair is pulled up in a bun and her right hand is resting on her face, with a silver bracelet on her wrist. In the background are a green vine-type plant.Family handout
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".

PA Media Performers in colourful, coordinated costumes dance in the street during Notting Hill Carnival, with one man holding a large striped umbrella leading a group of smiling girls wearing vibrant headpieces and wing-like fabric.PA Media
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":[]}