The O2 Academy Brixton has had its licence suspended for 3 months following a deadly crowd crush that killed two individuals.
In the present day (January 16) Lambeth councillors voted to droop the south London venue’s licence after the deaths of safety guard Gaby Hutchinson and live performance attendee Rebecca Ikumelo at an Asake gig in December.
The venue has been shut for the reason that incident and final week it was introduced that it will stay shuttered till no less than April. Now, the venue’s license has been suspended formally.
Met Police had utilized for a abstract evaluate of the venue’s licence previous to the licensing sub-committee assembly. The pressure stated that within the wake of the tragedy it believed that the venue was related to “critical crime and critical dysfunction”.
Councillor Fred Cowell stated the assembly earlier at this time [via Evening Standard]: “Each the police and the licence holder have expressed the view that the continued investigations are at too early a stage to obviously determine the trigger or causes of the deadly incident on the 15 December 2022 and the extent of any remedial steps required to forestall any repetition of a critical incident.
“As a consequence the licensing sub-committee is just not presently glad that the venue can reopen at this stage with out undermining the licensing aims.”
It was additionally dominated that any licensable exercise on the venue can’t occur till steps are taken to be taught classes from the deadly incident – to finally enhance on its security report.
Academy Music Group (AMG), which owns the venue, beforehand stated that it will shut for 3 months in any occasion whereas officers continued the investigation.
In an announcement final week a spokesperson for AMG stated: “O2 Academy Brixton recognises the gravity of the occasions which occurred on the evening of December 15 2022 and expresses its honest condolences to the households of those that died through the tragic incident and its real issues for anybody affected by it.
“The licence holder, Academy Music Group, is dedicated to understanding what occurred and co-operating with the assorted investigations which are beneath approach, together with offering full co-operation to the police within the conduct of their inquiries.
“AMG has mirrored deeply and has come to its personal choice to shut the premises for 3 months whereas the investigations happen and, on the identical time, to work in partnership with the accountable authorities, which is able to embrace a evaluate of the licence situations and proposed amendments.
“The corporate’s choice to shut for this era would be the case whether or not or not the licence is suspended however AMG agrees to the suspension as an enforceable measure.”
Lambeth Council has the ability to additional droop and even completely revoke the venue’s licence.
Final month’s incident occurred when individuals who have been exterior the venue have been in a position to pressure their approach in to the present, resulting in overcrowding and the gig being cancelled halfway by means of.
Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, died in hospital on December 17, whereas Gaby Hutchinson, 23, died on December 19. It was reported final week {that a} third attendee, aged 21, remained in a important situation in hospital.
An attraction for the younger sons of Ikumelo has raised almost £50,000 in donations. A Gofundme attraction was launched by her household to boost cash to assist her sons – donate right here.
