O2 Academy fights back against Brixton closure as it pledges more safety measures after deadly crush

The venue in Brixton’s licence was temporarily taken off them after security dog-handler Gaby Hutchinson, 23, and nursing graduate Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, were killed at the venue.

A 21-year-old woman, who was injured in the crush remains in hospital in a critical condition.

Fans who did not have tickets attempted to force their way into the show by Nigerian artist Asake.

The two-day hearing to decide whether the venue is safe for use concluded for the public today. Lambeth Council’s licensing subcommittee, the Metropolitan Police and other representatives will continue deliberating in the coming days.

Today’s public afternoon session opened with Lambeth Council barrister Horatio Waller QC highlighting conditions for the potential re-opening of the venue, while the Metropolitan Police stated their opposition under the stewardship of Academy Music Group Company.

Waller added that the venue operator AMG has accomplished a “complete overhaul” of their security measures and approaches towards risk assessments since December last year.

They were “independently audited” by consultants and lauded as “comprehensive and robust”.

He went on to say that the results of the findings have given police “confidence to work with AMG to help develop their proposals further”.

Although the council’s theoretical support of re-opening the venue, Councillor Fred Howell, made it clear that this did not mean that was the final decision of the committee, and that a decision is still to be made.

Academy Music Group Company’s legal representative, Philip Kolvin QC said: “My client is probably the leading host of Black origin in this country.

“That’s a position that it values and would like to continue to be”.

Of the 13 different risks assessed by the Academy, he said that “none of them are racial”.

Kolvon also highlighted the installation of strengthened doors at the venue to allow for pushback against increased pressure, if something were to happen.

Lambeth Council say they are also undertaking a Health and Safety Investigation of the O2 Academy Brixton tragedy which is being independently led by former council Chief Executive Paul Martin.

He has been working closely with the council, police and other relevant stakeholders since the beginning of the year.

Councillor Mahamed Hashi, Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Rebecca Ikumelo and Gaby Hutchinson who lost their lives, as well as with the person who is still in hospital, and all those suffering the trauma of witnessing such distressing scenes at one of our borough’s live music venues.

“We are determined to use the powers we have available to us to make sure the lessons of this tragedy are learnt, and that we never see a traumatic incident like this again.”

Twenty-five representations have been received against the review application from organisations and members of the public, which highlight a number of areas which they believe should be considered.

They include that the potential close of the venue “will lead” to a considerable increase in poorly managed or illegal events taking place across London; communities will be exposed to increased levels of noise and nuisance and anti-social behaviour, rather than the provision of a well-regulated and safe space.

So far the work carried out by Lambeth officer and by Lambeth’s Licensing Committee has been “exemplary”, according to the managing director of Brixton Business Improvement.

Gianluca Rizzo says: “They followed a robust and transparent process despite the sensitivity and challenges of this case.

“I’m hopeful that, having heard the evidence put forward by the operator, the Committee will now give permission to the Brixton Academy to reopen its doors.

“Over the past nine months, local businesses have suffered from reduced trade, music fans have missed out on live concerts and artists have lost opportunities to perform at this iconic venue.

“It’s time to ensure the safe and prompt reopening of the Brixton Academy.”

A decision on the future of the venue is expected to be communicated to the public end of this week or early next week.