Brixton Academy could have speakers fitted for safety warnings after fatal crowd crush

By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter

Plans have been revealed to fit speakers outside the O2 Academy Brixton that would broadcast safety warnings, as the venue’s future hangs in the balance following a crowd crush last year that left two dead.

The Academy Music Group [AMG], which runs the 94-year-old venue, has submitted proposals to Lambeth council to install a tannoy system around the Grade-II listed building.

The speaker system will let staff make safety announcements to customers outside of the venue to assist with crowd control, according to plans.

The O2 Academy Brixton has been shut since December 2022 following a crush outside the 4,900 capacity venue which resulted in the deaths of Gabrielle Hutchinson, 23, a security worker, and mum-of-two Rebecca Ikumelo, 33.

A 21-year-old woman injured during the crush remains seriously ill in hospital.

According to plans submitted to the council, the speakers will “communicate safety announcements clearly to the patrons on the outside of the venue only”.

It continues: “This would add a previously missing facility to use with regards to crowd control and safety and can only be considered a worthwhile installation.”

AMG has also submitted separate plans to Lambeth council to replace eight basement fire doors below the stage at the venue.

The doors, which provide access to the orchestra pit and corridors flanking it, have been in place for a number of years and are beginning to show signs of wear, according to documents.

AMG submitted an application with the council to allow the venue to reopen in March, but a hearing to make a decision on the application has yet to take place.

In April, the Met made a separate application urging the council to strip AMG of its licence completely.

Police said they had “lost confidence in the premises licence holder”, AMG, in the submission.

The Met has launched a corporate manslaughter investigation into the incident at the venue on December 15 last year.

Despite this, thousands of concert-goers have since signed an online petition calling on the vanue to be saved.

Last week detective chief inspector Nigel Penney, senior investigating officer for the case, admitted the police were still unsure about why the crowd surge happened and appealed for people to come forward with footage of the incident.

He said: “Six months on from this tragic incident, we remain absolutely committed to finding out what happened that night. We are grateful to everyone who has come forward so far, but we still need more information from those who were there that evening.

“Please do not assume we have the information or images you are in possession of. We are especially interested in video footage from that evening.”

AMG was contacted for comment on the planned changes to the O2 Academy Brixton but hadn’t replied at the time of publication.

Pictured top: Brixton Academy in the aftermath of the fatal crush (Picture: PA)