Club 414, in Coldharbour Lane, had its license handed back by Lambeth council. Pic by Brixton Blog

By Tim Dickens, editor

One of Brixton’s longest-running night clubs, Club 414, had its license handed back by Lambeth council last night.

The license had been suspended earlier this month following a shooting at the Coldharbour Lane venue that left a promoter and DJ critically ill in hospital on March 7.

A licensing sub-committee at Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton, restored the club’s license. The reprieve was given on the condition that a knife search arch is installed at the door, ID scanners are used to record the identity of clubbers, plastic glasses are used and a form 696 risk assessment is completed before any future significant events. They must also never again use the security firm employed on March 6/March 7.

Owner and director Louise Barran, who has held the license at the club for more than 25 years, said after the meeting: “We’re very happy and relieved.

“We are party people. We only have one rule and that is behave or get out and go home. We have run this club for 25 years and stayed away from trouble.

Co-director Anthony Pommell added: “We’re very happy with the conditions, and we think it’s the way forward.

“From now on we’re going to stick to what we know best with the trance and psy trance nights. We will ensure it’s one of the safest run clubs to serve Brixton in the future. ”

Licensing police officer Sgt Steve Strange praised the club’s owners following the incident, which happened on a reggae night run by external promoters.

Strange added: “This is not a venue that causes great concern for police, albeit that this was an extremely serious incident.”

He said that on the night in question the victim, a DJ and promoter, was shot once in the chest and once in the stomach. A search of the club later uncovered a kitchen knife hidden in a plant pot.

Addressing the committee earlier, the club’s lawyer Michael Paget said: “The license holders have been in Coldharbour Lane for 25 years. They were part of the vanguard of bringing stability back to Brixton and Coldharbour Lane. They have been one of the continuous aspects of Coldharbour Lane from when they were given funding to set  up in 1985 and they want to continue to fulfill that role in Brixton as a whole.”

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Two serving police officers have been arrested on suspicion of perjury and perverting the cause of justice over the 2008 death of Sean Rigg in custody in Brixton police station.

A retired officer, aged 48, was also arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. All three are being questioned at a London police station.

Rigg, who suffered from schizophrenia, died in August 2008 after being held in the prone position for more than eight minutes by officers on the Weir Estate.

An inquest last year uncovered a “litany of apalling failures” by police and mental health workers in the run up to Rigg’s death in a cell in Brixton police station.

An Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) spokesman said: “IPCC investigators have carried out searches at their home addresses and the serving officers’ workplaces.

“Mr Rigg’s family have been told about today’s developments through their solicitors.”

Sean’s family, which continues to fight for justice, last year held an emotional vigil on the fourth anniversary of his death.

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Hundreds gathered in Windrush Square, Brixton, last night to celebrate the death of former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.

From about 5.30pm, people waving banners proclaiming “Thatcher’s Dead” chanted slogans. About 150 later danced to a sound system set up outside the Library during the event which continued until the early hours.

Police were also deployed to move revellers along in the early hours of the morning, as can be seen in the video.

Meanwhile, political leaders from the mainstream political parties have condemned the party, with Chuka Umunna MP calling it: “extreme bad taste”. The Conservative leader on lambeth council, John Whelan, branded the event “despicable”.

Scroll down for photographs of the events by Tim Dickens, Jeannine Mansell and Zoe Jewell.

Video below from Youtube, uploaded by user “meanutt”.

Pictures below (in daylight) by Tim Dickens

Picture by Jeannine Mansell

Picture by Jeannine Mansell

Picture by Jeannine Mansell

Picture by Jeannine Mansell

Picture by Michael Delaney

Picture by Michael Delaney

Picture by Michael Delaney

Picture by Michael Delaney

Picture by Michael Delaney

Picture by Michael Delaney

Picture by Michael Delaney

Picture by Michael Delaney

Picture by Michael Delaney

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Picture by Michael Delaney

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A woman has been jailed for burglary at a Brixton charity shop following this week’s Thatcher “death party”.

Police said Alejandra Sanchez, 21, of no fixed address took advantage of a smashed window of Barnardos, Brixton Road, to try and steal items. The glass had earlier been broken by people attending a party to celebrate the death of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Sanchez was jailed for 28 days at Camberwell Magistrates yesterday (Thursday). A 20-year-old woman arrested at the same time was released with no further action.

DC Andy Hall, of Lambeth police, said: “Sanchez took advantage of earlier disorder which culminated in an unprovoked attack on Barnardos to commit a burglary in a shop which seeks to raise money to help children.”

He added: “Hopefully this swift sentence will show that criminality, no matter what excuses people hide behind, is unacceptable and will be dealt with. I appeal to anyone who has information regarding the disorder from Monday evening to contact the police or Crimestoppers.”

A police spokesman said a man was arrested for criminal damage after the window was smashed, just after midnight on Tuesday (April 9).

On Tuesday, a group calling itself the Informal Anarchist Federation claimed responsibility for the smashed window. Writing on the website Indymedia, one activist said: “On the celebration of Thatcher’s death, we smashed a window of Barnardo’s ‘charity shop’ in Brixton using a concrete slab from a bin on the street. And it was easy. We would of done more if it weren’t for self-proclaimed pacifists violently attempting to arrest us.”

They added: “This action was in solidarity with all migrants detained, deported and struggling to cross borders. Barnardo’s was targeted because they fund and administrate Cedars detention centre in Croydon. They detain children, families and individuals who merely seek freedom from poverty, persecution, murder, rape and other oppression the borders.”

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Forensics officers carrying out investigations in Southwell Road on Sunday. Picture by Charlotte Mehiet

By Anthony Cuthbertson

A murder inquiry is underway following the death of a 23-year-old man, shot in the head in the early hours of this morning during a party in Southwell Road, Loughborough Junction.

Police and ambulance services were called to the first floor flat just before 5am this morning after receiving reports of a man with gunshot wounds. The victim was rushed to hospital but died several hours later.

Another man presented himself at a hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to the ankle. Police are linking the two victims to the incident on Southwell Road.

Local residents reported hearing three gun shots fired at some time between 4am and 5am.

A trail of blood could be seen on Sunday morning on the road and pavement.

Southwell Road was closed on Sunday after the shooting at a party in a first floor flat. Picture by Charlotte Mahiet

Southwell Road is currently closed while detectives from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command investigate.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police has said that so far no arrests have been made. He added: “There was a party at the first floor flat in Southwell Road at the time of the shooting, and officers need to speak with anyone who was at that party or who has information about the shootings.”

Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Investigations continue, no-one has been arrested. Picture by Charlotte Mahiet

Police vans on Sunday in Southwell Road. Picture by Charlotte Mahiet

The post Murder enquiry launched after double shooting on Southwell Road, Camberwell appeared first on Brixton Blog.

The Metropolitan Police’s helicopter India 99 helped ground-based officers deal with a 16-year-old boy who climbed on to a roof this morning.

The teenager climbed onto the roof, in Wakefield Close, Clapham, at about 9.40am this morning. He eventually came down safely, and no arrests were made.

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Police at the scene of the shooting in Southwell Road. Picture by Charlotte Mehiet

Two men have been arrested in connection with a double shooting in Loughborough Junction which left one victim dead.

Jerome Edwards, 23, from Catford, died after being shot in the head at a party in a flat in Southwell Road at 4.50am on Sunday. A second man, aged 21, was treated in hospital after being shot in the ankle in the street outside.

Last night detectives detained two men over the shootings, both in their early 20s. One was arrested on suspicion of murder; the other was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Both remain in custody  as enquiries continue.

An incident room has opened at Lewisham under Detective Chief Inspector
Glen Lloyd from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command (HSCC) and
officers are appealing for witnesses and information.

DCI Lloyd said: “We are trying to piece together the circumstances
around both incidents. We believe there could have been anything up to
100 people at the party and I am keen to speak to anyone who was inside
the flat in Southwell Road; anyone who was in the street outside or
anyone who was driving in the area after 4am on Sunday morning.”

Any witnesses or anyone with any information are asked to contact the
incident room on 020 8721 4906 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800
555 111.

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Police at the scene in Southwell Road

A man has been charged with shooting dead 23-year-old Jerome Edwards at a party in Southwell Road, Loughborough Junction, on Sunday.

Clleon Smith, 26, of Hichisson Road, SE15, was charged with murder last night, as well as the attempted murder of a second man, shot in the ankle outside the party, and possession of a gun.

Police and ambulance services were called to the first floor flat just before 5am on Sunday (April 14) after receiving reports of a man with gunshot wounds. The victim was rushed to hospital but died several hours later.

A second man arrested in connection with the investigation, aged 31, has been bailed to return to a south London police station in late May pending further enquiries.

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Police were called to squatters  occupying a disused Lambeth council building in Brixton Hill from the early hours of this morning.

Porden Road, at its junction with Brixton Hill,  remains closed with a number of police in the area after people occupied the building in Town Hall Parade .

According to the Metropolitan Police, protesters broke into disused council buildings at 3am this morning. Neighbours also reported hearing the police helicopter overhead at about 6am.

A police spokesperson said: “Police were called shortly after 3am to around 20 protesters inside and on the roof of the disused Brixton Town Hall building.

“Officers are in attendance. There has been no arrest.”

UPDATE: Protesters leave peacefully

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Police were called after the collision on Effra Road

Police in Lambeth have launched an appeal for witnesses to a serious assault in Brixton over the Christmas period.

Two men attacked the victim outside the Jamm, Brixton Road, leaving him unconscious at about 2.15am on December 29 last year. The 18-year-old man was talking to one of the suspects when he was suddenly headbutted, before the second suspect hit the victim with an object.

The victim later recovered and was released from hospital.

His attackers are described “stocky white men in their thirties,” one wearing a grey hooded jumper with dark trousers and the other wearing a striped jumper, faded blue jeans and ankle-high trainers.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call PC 828LX Louis Owen who is investigating this case on 0208 649 2184 alternatively you can report information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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The back of the Bon Marche centre. Picture from Google Streetview

The Kings Cross based enterprise Drink Shop & Do have applied for a licence to run a new branch in Ferndale Road, Brixton.

If approved by Lambeth Council, the operation will take over the back of the historic Bon Marche Centre’s ground floor and could include a cafe, bar and design shop. More details about the premises are found on a commercial property agents website here.

The applicants, childhood friends Kristie Bishop and Coralie Sleap, want a licence to sell alcohol from 9am until midnight on Mondays to Wednesdays, 1am on Thursdays and 2am on Friday and Saturday nights.

The website for the Kings Cross branch says: “We are a design shop and café bar selling products from emerging designers alongside vintage furniture and home wares.

“Everything is for sale: from designer crafts, vintage tea sets, 1950′s dressers and unusual tables and chairs, to hand-made cakes, ice creams, specialty teas, kitsch finger sandwiches, bottled beers and cocktails.”

Last year, Dogstar and Effra Social owners Antic succesfully applied for a change of use for the space from restaurant to bar use, and said they planned to open a bar named “Szaban in March”.

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INCIDENT: Brixton Mosque, Gresham Road

Police dealt with an incident in which a stone was thrown through the window of Brixton Mosque, in Gresham Road.

Officers were called just after 3am yesterday  to reports of “minor damage to a door and a stone thrown through a window.”

Police are continuing to investigate the crime, but no-one has yet been arrested.

A police spokesperson said: “Lambeth Police met with the Iman and other faith and community representatives last week and continue to liaise with the mosque during the investigation of this crime.”

Do you know what happened? Email newsdesk@brixtonblog.com

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The Audi mounted the pavement outside the Elm Park Tavern, ending wedged between the pub and parked cars. Picture by Simon Still @SimonStill on Twitter

A 35-year-old man has been arrested after the Audi he was driving ploughed into the Elm Park Tavern, Elm Park, following a police chase.

Police say the car was parked on Leander Road, Brixton, last night, when two officers approached it to speak to the two men inside. As they walked towards it they say one man ran out of the high-powered vehicle before it sped off towards Elm Park.

A police spokesperson said today: “Police followed the vehicle with lights and sirens but it failed to stop. The Audi mounted the pavement on Elm Park and struck a lamppost and a rubbish bin.”The driver was arrested for dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and suspicion of aggravated car theft. He was later arrested in custody for possession of cannabis.

Brixton Blog reader Simon Still posted this picture on Twitter at 9.30pm yesterday, saying: “End of police chase on Elm Park. Lucky [no one] was on the pavement.”

Andy Loughran took to social media site to say: “Nasty incident outside the elm park tavern at the bottom of [Leander Road]. Car on the pavement and into street light.”

Did you see what happened?  Do you have pictures you can share? Email newdesk@brixtonblog.com.

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Two men are in hospital today after a double stabbing in Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, at about 11.20pm last night.

Coldharbour Lane remains closed to traffic between Gresham Road and Valentia Place as police investigate the incidents.

Both men, whose injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, have been arrested by police and remain in hospital.

Transport for London say the road is still closed to allow for a “police investigation” following an incident outside a parade of shops.

Did you see what happened?  Email newsdesk@brixtonblog.com

Pictures of the scene have been posted on the Urban 75 forum.

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Police officers have closed Ostade Road, near the junction with Elm Park, Brixton, after reports of shots being fired this afternoon.

No one is thought to have been hurt in the incident, which happened at about 2.20pm this afternoon.

Update to follow.

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The scene of the incident of Villa Road, Brixton. Picture by @Dexterdeadwood on Twitter

A 23-year-old man in hospital after a stabbing on Angell Town estate, Brixton, this afternoon.

Police were called to the estate, near the junction of Villa Road and Brixton Road, at 2.49pm today following a suspected altercation in the area.

A spokesperson for Lambeth Police said the man was taken by ambulance to a south London hospital with a “non life-threatening” injury.

Officers have started their inquiries into the incident, but no arrests have been made.

The post Man in hospital after stabbing on Angell Town Estate Brixton appeared first on Brixton Blog.

Strathleven Road remains closed after the incident

A man and a woman have been injured in a shooting at a house in Strathleven Road, Brixton this morning.

Witnesses say they saw police arrest one man after the incident, as the police helicopter hovered above.

Strathleven Road remains closed as forensic officers scour the scene for evidence.

Forensics officers at the scene

One neighbour told Brixton Blog: “The first we knew was when police arrived and ran past our front door. Then we saw them arrest a white guy in the middle of the road.”

A police spokesman said they were called at 9.50am: “An armed response unit was sent to the scene. London Ambulance Service were also called to the scene. One man and one woman were injured. They have been taken to a south London hospital.

“Their conditions are unknown but they are not thought to be life threatening.

“A short time later, armed officers forced entry to the suspect’s property in Strathleven Road and restrained a man. He was unarmed. A firearm has since been recovered from the address.

“The man was arrested and has been taken to south London police station where he remains in custody. Inquires continue.”

The London air Ambulance landed nearby at 10.15am this morning.

Another neighbour said: “The Air Ambulance was there for about 20 minutes, and then the police helicopter arrived.”

Did you see what happened? Email us.

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Picture by Tim Dickens / Brixton Blog

Streatham and Brixton MP Chuka Umunna has expressed “deep shock” after a man and a woman were shot while trying to evict a tenant from a property.

Armed officers were called to a house in Strathleven Road, Brixton, at 9.50am this morning where they found the injured victims. Shortly after they arrested a man.

The two victims were taken to hospital, where their injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Umunna said: “Our whole community will be deeply shocked by this terrible incident, and everyone living locally will be wishing those who have been injured a speedy recovery.

Strathleven Road remains closed after the incident. Pic Tim Dickens

“It is very important that those who provide housing and related services can do their jobs without living in fear, never mind without suffering extreme violence of this type. I have been in contact with the Police since this incident occurred, and I know the investigation into what has happened is proceeding at pace. My thoughts will continue to be with those who have been injured.

“This is a sad example of the clear need to rid our society of guns and the scourge of gun violence.”

A police spokesman said: “At this early stage it is understood that the two victims were involved in an eviction of a resident from a property.”

A London Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “We sent a responder in a car, two ambulance crews, London Air Ambulance and an officer.

“Staff treated two patients, a man reported to be in his 60s and a 59-year-old woman.

“They were both treated for gunshot wounds and taken as priorities to hospital.

“The woman was escorted by a doctor from the air ambulance.”

Read more here.

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Police put up a cordon around the van on Brixton Hill this afternoon. Picture by James Cornish

Police have sealed off part of Brixton Hill this afternoon after an attempted robbery on a cash in transit van outside Sainsbury’s Local.

The incident happened at about 1.10pm, with the apparent target being a Loomis cash vehicle parked in front of the store, near the junction with Lambert Road.

Eyewitnesses at the scene say at least one person was arrested.

A police spokesperson said: “Police in Lambeth were called today  to Lambert Road, Brixton Hill, SW2 following an incident. A cash in transit robbery took place at an ATM machine. Nobody was injured.”

Officers from Lambeth police are investigating the incident.

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INCIDENT: Two men were injured during the fight at Morley’s chicken shop, Brixton Road. Pic from Google Streetview

Two men were injured during a knife fight in Morley’s chicken shop, Brixton Road, this morning.

Police were called just after 4am to the incident, which they described as an “altercation between two males involving a knife.”

One man’s injuries are described as “life-changing”, while the other’s are said to be non “life-threatening”. they remain in a south London hospital this evening.

A spokesperson for Lambeth police said arrests have been made, and inquiries are ongoing.

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