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Lambeth extends temporary suspension of licence for O2 Academy Brixton

Lambeth Council has decided to extend the temporary closure of the O2 Academy Brixton following a fatal incident that resulted in the deaths of two people and left a third in critical condition.

In a Licensing Sub-Committee meeting this week (16 January), councillors resolved to apply the suspension for a further three months to allow for a police investigation to be completed.

The London borough closed the venue in December in response to a request made by the Metropolitan Police.

The Met applied for a 'Summary/Expedited review' of the license under Section 53A (of the Licensing Act 2003) on Tuesday (20 December), which places a duty on the local authority to hold a hearing within 48 hours.

Powers set out in sections 53A to 53C of the Act allow the police to trigger a fast-track process to review a premises licence where the police consider that the premises are associated with serious crime or serious disorder, or both.

It also allows the licensing authority to respond by taking interim steps quickly, where appropriate, pending a full review.

Under the 2003 Act, councillors may modify the conditions of the premises licence to restrict the venue's capacity, demand extra stewarding, stop alcohol sales or suspend the venue's licence.

At the sub-committee meeting, councillors extended the interim suspension ahead of the expiry of the appeal period.

The Met requested an extension as its investigation was at too early a stage to clearly identify the cause or causes of the fatal incident and the extent of the remedial steps required to prevent any repetition of a serious incident.

The police, through its counsel Gerald Gouriet KC, indicated that five matters needed to be considered in detail before the venue could safely open again:

  1. The risk of recurrence and whether that risk has been adequately risk assessed;
  2. What procedures and protocols are in place to address the risk;
  3. Do the responsible authorities approve these procedures and protocols as sufficient to mitigate the risks;
  4. Does this council, acting as the licensing authority, approve the procedures and protocols;
  5. What amendments to the conditions on the premises licence are appropriate that legally require the venue to follow the necessary procedures and protocols.

Cllr Mahamed Hashi, Lambeth's Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, said: "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."

He added: "Lambeth Council will continue to support the Met Police's separate investigation into the tragic events of 15 December and support those in our community who have been traumatised by the shocking scenes at one of our borough's most famous venues."

The suspension is currently set to end on 16 April 2023.

Adam Carey