Two people tragically died in a crush at Brixton Academy in December. Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, a mother of two, and 23-year-old security guard Gaby Hutchinson lost their lives after the venue became dangerously overcrowded during a gig by Afro pop star Asake.
Witnesses reported hundreds of people desperate to get inside despite the venue already being full. Now, a whistleblower who was working at the venue that night has exposed a disturbing cash-for-entry scheme involving security staff.
The insider told BBC’s File on Four that some members of the security team regularly smuggled hundreds of extra people inside in exchange for money. “There were people taking money… some staff made £1,000 cash,” he said. “If someone wanted in without a ticket, they’d approach security near the barriers. Cash was handed over ‘around the corner,’ and a guard would walk you straight in the front door,” the guard explained.
The bribes were not an isolated incident. The whistleblower revealed that this scam occurred at multiple venues, stadiums, and festivals, with payments varying depending on the performer.
Describing the chaos at Brixton on December 15, the whistleblower said it was “like being in a really bad car crash — being crashed on and stamped on” as fans flooded inside. “If you let a few people in, they’ll text their friends, and they’ll text their friends. The bouncers started being greedy, and it got out of hand. People wanted to come in anyway, even if they didn’t have a ticket,” he added.
In a separate interview, a man named Andre said he gained entry to Brixton Academy with fake tickets bought through a deal with a security guard during a DJ Fred Again show the week before. “It felt really organised, and we weren’t the only ones who got in that way,” he said.
Following the revelations, Lambeth Council suspended Brixton Academy’s licence for three months after the Metropolitan Police applied for the ban as investigations into the tragedy continue. The Academy Music Group, owners of the venue, had already announced the closure. AP Security, the firm employing the guards, declined to comment.
Importantly, there is no evidence that victim Gaby Hutchinson was involved in unlawfully letting people in. This scandal has deeply shaken the live music industry, exposing dangerous corruption where greed has cost lives.
Originally published by UKNIP.
