Metropolitan Police ask for O2 Academy Brixton to be closed for good

The scene outside Brixton O2 Academy
The scene outside Brixton O2 Academy in December 2022 after the fatal crush Credit: PA

The O2 Academy Brixton could be closed for good after the Metropolitan Police urged the council to strip the venue of its licence. Security guard Gaby Hutchinson, 23, and Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, were killed when fans without tickets tried to enter a show by Nigerian artist Asake at the south London venue on December 15. The venue’s licence was suspended for three months by Lambeth councillors and a decision on whether to reopen the site is expected to be decided at a licensing meeting soon.

Rebecca Ikumelo and Gaby Hutchinson were fatally injured Credit: File

The Met Police said in a statement: “On Monday January 16, the licence of the O2 Academy Brixton was suspended for three months. “On April 14, the Met Police submitted an application for a review of (the) premises licence to Lambeth Council and will be seeking a revocation of the licence. “This matter will be decided at a future council sub-committee hearing on a date to be confirmed.” Lambeth councillors will decide whether to follow the police advice or to re-open the venue. Councillors previously decided to suspend the venue’s licence for three months and the decision was supported by the venue’s owner, Academy Music Group (AMG), which offered its condolences to the families of those who died in the incident. About 1,000 people were outside the venue and when police arrived, they found “large-scale disorder” with crowds eventually pushing the doors open, according to Gerald Gouriet KC who represented the Met Police at the licensing meeting. A police probe was launched shortly after the incident and the Security Industry Authority (SIA) has also launched an inquiry into corruption allegations made following the crowd crush.

Radio investigative show File On 4 reported a security guard at the venue said some members of the security staff would allow “a couple of hundred” people into the venue in exchange for money. “There were people taking money. Some staff made £1,000 cash,” the guard told the programme. “Our company knew what was going on and they knew the people who were doing it,” he added, “and they did nothing about it.”

The scene outside Brixton O2 Academy following a crown crush. Credit: PA

A spokesperson for AMG said: “AMG has co-operated fully with the Metropolitan Police and Lambeth Council since the tragedy at Brixton occurred. “We have had regular meetings and discussions with the Metropolitan Police and Lambeth Council at which we have presented detailed proposals that we believe will enable the venue to reopen safely. “AMG has been awaiting feedback on those proposals for several weeks and looks forward to hearing from the police as soon as possible in constructive terms. “The review of our licence will take place through the formal process with Lambeth Council in due course.” Lambeth Council has been contacted for comment.

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