Aside from the three-month suspension of its licence, the subcommittee imposed a condition requiring the venue to cease all licensable activities pending it submitting a variation application – and the council granting that application.
The purpose of the application would be to vary conditions on the existing licence in a way that fully addresses police concerns about the venue’s operations, and ensure no repeat of the tragic events of 15 December.
The decision follows a 28-day interim closure order made by the same committee at the end of last year, on December 22. The action follows the Met Police submitting an application for a ‘Summary License Review’.
Cllr Mahamed Hashi, Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, said: “The families and friends of Rebecca Ikumelo and Gaby Hutchinson have suffered an incredibly painful bereavement and other people have suffered serious injury in this incident.
“I thank the sub-committee for their efforts today to ensure that we see no repeat of December’s shocking scenes. They have carefully considered all the issues and listened to all parties before coming to this considered and important decision.
“It is now up to the O2 Academy Brixton to work with the authorities and come up with workable changes to their license, to deal with these matters, and to make a variation application.
“Lambeth Council will continue to support the Met Police’s separate investigation into the tragic events of December 15 and support those in our community who have been traumatised by the shocking scenes at one of our borough’s most famous venues.”
The licensing sub-committee decision relates to the future safety at the venue. The Metropolitan Police’s investigation into the events that took place are separate, and will examine the events of the night and surrounding issues.
The review decision notice will be posted on the Lambeth Council website later today (Jan16).
