New Safety Measures for Drumsheds
Following a license review and crowd complaints, London club Drumsheds has been permitted to continue its operations but must implement new safety measures.
Late last year, it was reported that the 15,000-capacity venue, located in Tottenham within a repurposed IKEA building, was facing the risk of losing its license. This concern arose after a series of serious incidents at the venue, leading to an investigation.
Enfield Council has since ruled that the site may remain open, provided new safety protocols are adhered to moving forward.
Investigation Findings and Incidents
An urgent license review was initiated following the death of a 27-year-old man who attended a Drumsheds event on October 12. The incident is suspected to be drug-related (as reported by Standard). On December 7, a 29-year-old woman also died in a hospital after attending a performance by Bicep’s The Hydra at Drumsheds; police believe this incident was also linked to drugs.
In November, a man was stabbed at the venue, prompting the Metropolitan Police to respond. No arrests were made in any of the three incidents, with the stabbing later confirmed to be non-fatal.
The club’s fate was scheduled for discussion at a council meeting on January 7, where it was announced that operations could continue under specific conditions until then.
According to a new report from London Centric, investigators found “serious deficiencies” in the medical care provided by staff members. One of the deceased attendees had reportedly received medical assistance earlier that night but was then “released back to the event” instead of being taken to the hospital or removed from the premises.
The report also alleged that the incident was not reported to the authorities “overnight,” which ultimately delayed “the police response and subsequent investigation.”
Publications such as Mixmag reported that police stated Drumsheds was “poorly probing” customers, partly due to the logistical difficulties of searching 15,000 people.
Concerns over the venue’s capacity and organization were also raised in December when a petition was initiated regarding claims of “overcrowding”.
The event celebrated the 15th anniversary of the British bass label UKF on December 13, headlined by Pendulum, Nero, and Knife Party. Many attendees took to social media to voice complaints about “unsafe queues,” overcrowding, and “aggressive” security measures.
As per London Centric and Mixmag, the review found that the venue would not need to reduce its capacity or introduce mandatory ID scanning and “bomb detection dogs” as requested by the Metropolitan Police. However, an increased police presence will be required during events, and serious incidents must be reported to the police immediately.
As of now, the effects of the new rules on future planned events remain unclear. The first scheduled event after the review is set to occur tonight (January 8th) and is titled Red Bull’s Culture Clash.
In addition to the petition regarding overcrowding during UKF15, a report surfaced last month on Music Technology describing extensive queues and questioning whether it was the “worst organized event to date”.
Following the public outcry, operator Drumsheds Broadwick Live released a statement acknowledging that the venue encountered “a number of issues” that night but attempted to address them by enhancing security measures.
“We are aware of the concerns raised and sincerely apologize for the disappointment and discomfort experienced during the event,” the statement published by MixMag read. “Unfortunately, we faced several challenges overnight, including longer than usual queues and congestion due to a combination of factors, including enhanced security procedures. While these measures were necessary, we recognize their impact and are conducting a thorough review.”
https://www.nme.com/news/music/londons-drumsheds-to-enforce-new-safety-measures-licence-review-crowd-complaints-3827186?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=londons-drumsheds-to-enforce-new-safety-measures-licence-review-crowd-complaints