Music events obstructed from occurring at the O2 Academy Brixton

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.032395

I note you seek access to the following information:

I would like to obtain information regarding the music events that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has obstructed from occurring at the O2 Academy Brixton from September 2022 to September 2023, September 2021 to September 2022, and September 2020 to September 2021.

To facilitate this request, I would be grateful if you could provide the following information for each respective time period:

1. The total number of music events that the Met Police obstructed from occurring at the O2 Academy Brixton.

2. The reasons behind the Met Police's decision to obstruct each of these events.

I understand that the reasons for obstructing events might include concerns related to public safety, security, potential disturbances, or other legal and regulatory considerations.

I kindly request that the provided information be as detailed as possible, including dates, event names (if available), and specific explanations for each event's obstruction.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

The MPS have never, and would never, ‘obstruct’ an event due to be held at a specific venue. Therefore, the answer to your specific request is ‘0’.

It is the responsibility of the operator to risk assess their own events. However, on occasions the Basic Command Unit and Central MPS Licensing teams do provide intelligence where appropriate, especially where concerns for safety are raised.

This has occurred on one occasion during the period specified, in 2021, and the venue themselves decided to not run the event. Information on this has already been disclosed into the public domain via a FOI request and can be found here on our website:

Correspondence regarding postponement of Digga D O2 Academy concert

In addition, please note that the police, in accordance with Section 76 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, can close premises (licensed or unlicensed) quickly which are being used, or likely to be used, to commit nuisance or disorder. This power has never been used in relation to these premises.