Mayor urged to keep Londoners safe after Brixton Academy crush

By Noah Vickers, Local Democracy Reporter

Sadiq Khan has been urged to take action to keep Londoners safe on nights out in the wake of the fatal crush at the O2 Academy Brixton.

Six recommendations relating to safety at night-time venues have been made by London Assembly Members (AMs), directed at both the Mayor and the city’s borough authorities.

A motion putting the six recommendations forward was proposed by Conservative AM Shaun Bailey at a recent meeting. Mr Bailey said that what happened at O2 Academy Brixton must not be allowed to occur elsewhere in London.

A gig at the venue by the Afrobeats singer Asake on December 15, 2022 was cut short after overcrowding in the foyer caused a surge.

Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, and Gaby Hutchinson, 23, were both fatally injured in the crush.

Mr Bailey told his colleagues: “London is a 24-hour city and wants to remain that way. The protection of our venues, and how they’re administered, is very important.

“Some of you may not know this, but I was a security guard for more than 10 years. I’ve been involved personally in crushes. It is a very scary, very horrible thing to happen.”

Mr Bailey’s motion was passed unanimously by the Assembly at its most recent plenary meeting on Thursday, February 9.

It called on the Mayor to work with councils in keeping an up-to-date register of night-time venues, their capacities and licensing conditions, as well as instructing his Night Czar, Amy Lamé, to invite the police, councils and the biggest security firms to City Hall to discuss bribery allegations and what can be done to combat overcrowding in venues.

A spokeswoman for the mayor said: “The mayor is deeply saddened by the deaths of Rebecca Ikumelo and Gaby Hutchinson and his thoughts remain with all those affected by the tragic incident at the O2 Brixton Academy on December 15. Serious allegations have been made and they must be properly investigated.”

The Academy remains closed after Lambeth council suspended its licence for three months up to April 16.

Academy Music Group has previously stated: “O2 Academy Brixton recognises the gravity of the events which occurred on the night of December 15, 2022 and expresses its sincere condolences to the families of those who died during the tragic incident and its genuine concerns for anyone affected by it.”

Pictured top: The scene outside Brixton O2 Academy on December 16, the day after the crowd crush (Picture: James Manning/PA Wire/PA Images)