Anonymous whistleblower tells how O2 Brixton Academy security took bribes to allow people into the venue

Things appear to be going from bad to worse for O2 Academy Brixton following the fatal crowd crush that killed two people and led to its closure in December last year. 

On Saturday (14th Jan), the venue’s owners Academy Music Group (AMG), reported that it would remain closed until at least April while investigations are still ongoing.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, a whistleblower claiming to have worked on the O2 Brixton Academy’s security team has alleged that staff members would “regularly” accept bribes to allow people into the venue without a ticket, as reported by the BBC.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s File on 4, the whistleblower suggested that the venue’s contracted security firm, AP Security was aware of the practice but took no action to stop it.

The guard (given an anonymous pseudonym of Rohan) told the BBC: “There were people taking money,” while adding: “some staff made £1,000 cash.

“Our company knew what was going on, and they knew the people who were doing it,” he continued. “And they did nothing about it.

“They [some security guards] will tell you a few things, [then you] go round the corner… five them a lot of cash, and they will walk you straight in the front door.”