Several security guards at the O2 Brixton Academy where two women died in a horror crowd crush repeatedly let people in without tickets in exchange for bribes, a whistleblower has claimed.
The popular music venue in south London has had its licence suspended for three months after security guard Gaby Hutchinson, 23, and Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, died in the crush outside a gig by Afro-pop star Asake.
A security guard has told BBC's File on 4 that some members of his team would allow "a couple of hundred" extra people into venues in exchange for bribe money.
AP Security, their employer, declined to comment when approached by the BBC. The Mirror has attempted to approach the firm.
The guard, Rohan, which was not his real name, said there were some staff taking money, with certain workers making £1,000 in cash.
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Rohan, who was working on the front doors when the fatal crush happened on December 15, claimed AP Security knew what was going on and the people who were doing it and they did nothing about it.
Gaby Hutchinson, who died after the crowd crush at the O2 Brixton Academy (PA)
Rebecca Ikumelo, a mum-of-two, was also killed in the incident (PA)Speaking of the night the fatal crush happened, he said there were 110 members of the security team there when there should have been 190.
"It was like being in a car crash that's been really awful - being crashed on and stamped on," he said.
Rohan said he witnessed what happened to both mum-of-two Rebecca Ikumelo and Gaby Hutchinson.
However, the Academy Music Group (AMG) - which runs the venue - disputed the numbers of security on duty that night, telling The Mirror in an email that 157 contracted security staff were working.
The crowd outside the gig by Afro-pop star Asake (@DammySNM/Twitter)
Thousands had turned up to see the Afrobeats artist, who had only performed a few songs before being forced to end the show (@DammySNM/Twitter)They declined to comment on the whistleblower's specific claims.
There was no suggestion that Gaby, who worked for a second security company County Security as a specialist dog handler, was involved in taking bribes or letting people in without tickets.
However, Rohan went on to explain how a number of guards working for AP Security had been responsible for allowing music fans in without tickets.
He said that when a few people were let in, they would text their friends who would also spread the word.
Certain bouncers "started getting greedy" which caused the situation to spiral out of hand, he said.
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"You can train someone to the max, but when that happens in front of you, you actually stop… you freeze," he added about the carnage he witnessed.
Metropolitan Police officers at the scene last month (James Veysey/REX/Shutterstock)Rohan claimed someone wanting to get into a gig would speak to security staff by the barriers controlling the queue of people coming into the venue, then "give them a lot of cash" around the corner.
At this point, the security staffer would walk them right through the front door.
Rohan said he also knew of this happening at a number of venues, stadiums and festivals at which he had worked, with the amount of money handed over varying depending on who was playing.
AP Security knew what was happening, he said, with him having attending meetings where people had complained about two individuals on the team.
Rohan claimed the subject had also been brought up in briefings and in conversations between managers and bouncers, but no-one had been disciplined as a result.
News of the alleged bribes comes after the O2 Academy Brixton has had its licence suspended for three months following a Lambeth Council sub-committee meeting on Monday, which was called after an application by the Metropolitan Police.
Chairman of the sub-committee, councillor Fred Cowell, said: "The decision of the licensing sub-committee is that the premises licence is suspended for a period of three months from today, expiring at one minute past midnight on April 16, 2023.
(Social Media)He added: "No licensable activities shall take place at the premises unless and until an application to vary the premises licence has been made by the premises' licence holder."
Gerald Gouriet KC, representing the Met, said the full extent of the injuries caused by the crush is still unknown.
Mr Gouriet applied for the venue to have its licence suspended for three months, for that suspension to include the initial 21-day appeal period, and for no licensed activities to take place there until it has had an application to vary its licence granted by the licensing sub-committee.
Stephen Walsh KC, representing the O2 Academy's owner, Academy Music Group (AMG), said his client agreed to the suspension terms as set out by the police.
The O2 has had its licence suspended for three months (James Veysey/REX/Shutterstock)He also offered sympathies on behalf of the venue to those impacted by the tragedy.
He said: "The 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 that tragic incident and its genuine concerns for anyone affected by it."
A spokesperson added: "The licence holder (Academy Music Group) is committed to understanding what happened and co-operating with the various investigations that are under way including providing full cooperation to the police in the conduct of their inquiries."
AP Security has been contacted for comment.
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