View Full Version : Brixton Fridge busted in massive police raid!
From the BBC:
Five people have been arrested by police during a raid on alleged drug dealing at a south London nightclub.
About 200 officers are involved in an ongoing operation at The Fridge club in Brixton, targeting class A drugs.
Police said the raid followed a two-month intelligence operation focusing on the alleged supply of cocaine, amphetamines and ecstasy.
On Saturday a 29-year-old man was arrested at Harrow, north-west London, in connection with the raid.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4913328.stm
<editor goes off to check what night was on tonight>
It took the police two months to find 5 people who deal class A drugs?
Two months???
D'oh - the BBC linked a dummy website (http://www.fridgerocks.com/deepfreeze/index.php?theme=hardwired) for the Fridge...
The site's been like that for over a year.
It was a gay night that they busted/
More info:
http://www.24dash.com/content/news/viewNews.php?navID=7&newsID=4856
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-1158.html
"Around half of the officers stormed the club's front door whilst backup officers (oo-err) covered the rear of the venue that was hosting its weekly Polysexual club night."
Pot-Bellied Pig
16-04-2006, 07:31
Whats' a Polysexual ? Is it some-one who fucks parrots ?
As for the question about raiding the club....it might well take two months to identify dealers in a large club. For a start you don't send undercover oficers in every night and you have to send different ones and there is only so many available at anyone time. Then you have to but a certain number of deals to strengthen the evidence of supply and lastly to have to identify the dealers and make sure they are inside when you target the bust........ie- if the dealers aren't in there on a Friday then what day are they all in ? Takes time.
A large club like The Fridge should be able to keep a clean house and the management are lax, lazy or criminal if they turn a blind eye. No-one can keep people from bring in hidden personal but to have six dealers working to this extent smacks of criminality on the part this establishment. If that proves to be the case they should be closed down for good.
Here's the full Press Association report of what happened:
200 POLICE IN DRUGS RAID AT TOP LONDON CLUB
By Neville Dean, PA Crime Correspondent
Eleven people have been arrested following a drugs raid at a top London
nightclub.
More than 200 officers swooped on The Fridge in Brixton, south London, last
night to investigate allegations of Class A drug dealing.
Scotland Yard said four men and two women were held on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A substances.
Five people were arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A substances.
They are all in custody and will be questioned later today.
The spokesman added that four people received formal warnings for possession of a small amount of cannabis, while a further nine will be investigated after they were found to be in possession of a small amount of Class A substances.
Officers recovered drugs, believed to be cocaine and ecstasy, and a large
amount of money in the raid which followed a two-month covert intelligence
operation, police said.
The dramatic raid was triggered by a command "attack, attack" at just after
11.25pm as clubbers were arriving for the start of the venue's "Polysexual"
night.
Scores of officers then burst in through the front door while others covered
the rear. Police intelligence suggested the alleged dealing was taking place inside and around the female toilets. Earlier yesterday, in connection with the raid, a 29-year-old man was arrested in Harrow, north-west London, on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
The operation, codenamed Atuna, was led by CO14, Scotland Yard's specialist Clubs and Vice unit, and included officers from the Territorial Support Group. They swept into the club - which is housed in an old converted cinema - took control of the foyer and the dancefloor, turned the music off and the lights up.
Plain-clothes officers, operating undercover, were inside the club as the raid
began. Around 130 clubbers were inside at the time of the raid, although it has the capacity for many more. Some clubbers were then brought into the foyer and searched for drugs.
Senior officers were keen to stress that the raid was not targeted at a
particular type of music or style of event, but was instead designed to meet
community concerns.
However, many disgruntled revellers who had to leave the venue complained that their night had been ruined, and asked why it was necessary to halt the night rather than just remove the alleged dealers.
Chief Superintendent Martin Bridger, Borough Commander for Lambeth, apologised to those who had travelled a long way to the club only to see their night end prematurely. He said that substances thought to be ecstasy and cocaine had been found at the club, and insisted that drug dealing had to be tackled.
"Drug dealers and the misery they cause are not welcome in Lambeth.
"The local community and police will not tolerate their criminal
behaviour."
Mr Bridger indicated that the venue's licence would now be reviewed.
"What is clear is that there will be a review of the premises and the control
mechanisms they have in place for keeping drugs out of the premises," he said.
Inspector Chris Bedwell, from the Clubs and Vice Unit, said: "Thousands of
people flood into the capital's world famous nightclubs every weekend.
"It is our job to work closely with the licensees, club owners and councils
to make sure that these clubbers are safe.
"If these clubs are turning a blind eye to Class A drugs being sold inside
then we have a duty to act and deal with these people so that a majority who go to pubs and clubs in London can do so in a safe crime-free environment."
Mr Bedwell said the alleged dealing inside the club was "blatant and
obvious" and that the intelligence operation had been running for as long as
five months.
Uniformed police officers formed a cordon around the entrance early today and handed out leaflets to clubbers that explained why the raid was taking place.John Roberts, the Metropolitan Police Authority's lead member for Lambeth, said the operation was part of a wider attempt to end the misery that drug dealing caused to the community.
Mr Roberts said: "By listening to the community and responding to their
concern we can tackle drug dealing in Lambeth.
"Tonight's operation is part of a much bigger picture where, together, the
police and the community are targeting the anti-social criminality that drug
dealing breeds and the misery that is causes."
He added: "Brixton is saying `enough is enough'. People come to Brixton to
have fun and enjoy the nightlife - they do not want to come to clubs where they are being peddled drugs."
The Fridge nightclub started in the early 1980s and moved into the converted
cinema in 1985.
As for the question about raiding the club....it might well take two months to identify dealers in a large club. For a start you don't send undercover oficers in every night and you have to send different ones and there is only so many available at anyone time. Then you have to but a certain number of deals to strengthen the evidence of supply and lastly to have to identify the dealers and make sure they are inside when you target the bust........ie- if the dealers aren't in there on a Friday then what day are they all in ? Takes time.
I think about 4 undercover officers in two weeks could find your five or eleven people dealing class A drugs in sufficient quantity. Quite easily just one person in a single night can do that. And you can be 95% sure they will be selling on a Friday or Saturday night.
memespring
16-04-2006, 09:38
I think about 4 undercover officers in two weeks could find your five or eleven people dealing class A drugs in sufficient quantity. Quite easily just one person in a single night can do that. And you can be 95% sure they will be selling on a Friday or Saturday night.
I agree, Ive not been in there for a few years but I reckon you could have found that many dealers in the without much effort on most Friday nights. The police must have had some specific intellegence or been after a particular group. Especially if they had 200 plods avaliable!
Weird it's all over the media though, if it had been Heven or Fabric I doubt it would have made the front page of the bbc website - the media is still addicted to Brixton drug stories then.
DJWrongspeed
16-04-2006, 09:52
I fail to see how a few dealers in the fridge on a sat night is affecting anyone's community? :confused: given the rampant street scene a few 100 yards away , surely that is where police time could be usefully spent.
"People come to Brixton to have fun and enjoy the nightlife, they do not want to come to clubs where they are being peddled drugs"
John Roberts
that's just ridonkulous nonsense isn't it? without drugs places like the Fridge would've closed years ago.
People come to Brixton to
have fun and enjoy the nightlife - they do not want to come to clubs where they are being peddled drugs.
*snigger* they haven't got a clue, have they... :rolleyes: that is precisely the reason why a lot of people come..
MysteryGuest
16-04-2006, 10:08
You'd have to have a real taste for danger to deal in the Fridge tbh. A few years ago a friend of mine was walking around chatting to a few of his mates there, whereupon security hauled him round the back, searched him and called the cops when they found some k and about 5 pills on him. He spent the rest of the night in Brixton nick. He eventually got off with a caution. The Fridge was very much known then as somewhere to be extra careful with your substances. (Or it was in my social circle anyway.) I was there one night around 1999 where it got raided, and it very much looked like the police were targeting specific dealers, so it's happened before.
Mr Roberts said: "By listening to the community and responding to their concern we can tackle drug dealing in Lambeth.
He said the operation was "part of a much bigger picture" which involved targeting "the anti-social criminality that drug dealing breeds and the misery that is causes".
He added: "People come to Brixton to have fun and enjoy the nightlife, they do not want to come to clubs where they are being peddled drugs."
Au contraire, many people do.
The police consistently try to justify their actions by lumping recreational drug taking in with the really addictive stuff.
I think there are FAR more important ways in which the Police should be spending their time, ffs.
eg. dealing with crack, smack, robbery, violent crime, anti-social behaviour, rape, the list goes on....
brixtonvilla
16-04-2006, 10:11
Weird it's all over the media though, if it had been Heven or Fabric I doubt it would have made the front page of the bbc website - the media is still addicted to Brixton drug stories then.
Naaaah. Fabric or Heaven would still have made the headlines. Still, drugs in the Fridge. Who'dathunkit? Is nowhere safe? You'll be telling me there's drugs in George IV or the Telegraph next...
detective-boy
16-04-2006, 10:15
I think about 4 undercover officers in two weeks could find your five or eleven people dealing class A drugs in sufficient quantity. Quite easily just one person in a single night can do that. And you can be 95% sure they will be selling on a Friday or Saturday night.
Well that's Ian Blair's replacement sorted out then ... :rolleyes:
What is your point? Unless you are experienced in gathering evidence for a criminal prosecution in such a case, how do you feel so confident to challenge the information you are given by someone who is?
Were you the inspiration for Harry Enfields "You don't wanna do it like that ..." character?
detective-boy
16-04-2006, 10:17
The police must have had some specific intellegence or been after a particular group. Especially if they had 200 plods avaliable!
They were. The dealers they had identified as a result of a long-term intelligence gathering operation.
detective-boy
16-04-2006, 10:18
"People come to Brixton to have fun and enjoy the nightlife, they do not want to come to clubs where they are being peddled drugs"
That quote sums up the problem. That, in my experience, is precisely why many people DO want to go to clubs!
Polysexual isn't one of the main gay "circuit" nights like Beyond, AM, Later or Orange (all run by the Orange Group who now own The Fridge). I led to believe it's more of mixed gay/str8 hardhouse night.
Be interesting to see how this might have a knock on effect with the above nights and venues like Fire (also owned by Orange).
"They do not want to come to clubs where they are being peddled drugs"
Are the police really that out of touch? Does this mean that all the people still partying at Orange at 12 noon on Monday are all sipping water to keep going.
The first Monday Night/Tuesday morning club... Open launches at Fire this week... kicks of at 2am closes at 10am. People just want to go along and not be peddled drugs so they can stay up for ridiculous hours, of course.
detective-boy
16-04-2006, 10:19
I think there are FAR more important ways in which the Police should be spending their time, ffs.
eg. dealing with crack, smack, robbery, violent crime, anti-social behaviour, rape, the list goes on....
They are. It's not either / or.
Monkeygrinder's Organ
16-04-2006, 10:22
They are. It's not either / or.
It is to a degree though isn't it? The resources available are finite and if they hadn't been raiding this club they could have been doing something else. That's obvious surely?
They are. It's not either / or.
But shouldn't they prioritise?
detective-boy
16-04-2006, 10:30
Are the police really that out of touch?
The issue is not whether or not the POLICE are out of touch. Even if they know perfectly well that lots of clubbers go to clubs specifically because they WANT to use controlled drugs, they are still duty bound to mount operations against them because it remains illegal. I suspect that this operation was specifically mounted against this club cause of some problem with their own in-house enforcement (or lack of it). Almost all the high-profile operations such as this that have been mounted in the last few years have arisen because of a lack of management will in co-operating with the police in keeping drug dealing (and, to a lesser extent, drug use) under control. In some cases this has been because the management are just incompetent. In others because they have a financial interest in allowing the dealing to continue.
The question is whether or not the public at large are out of touch. I suspect majority views are changing as generations familiar with the club scene grow older but until the public at large (via their politicians) change their minds about the illegality of drugs then it will remain illegal and the police will have to take some action against them.
I do not think it can be argued that the police can pick and choose which laws to enforce, though they do have wide discretion in how, when and to what extent. There is an issue that they tend to listen more to the Daily Mail reading demograpphic than to others, and that needs to continue to be addressed. But the police HAVE led moves towards less stringent enforcement of drug laws (e.g. pressure for the downgrading of cannabis to Class C; semi-tolerance of cannabis starting with the "Lambeth experiment" later adopted nationwide). Andtheir approach has brought howls of condemnation from other groups in society.
Whinge at the MPs, the councillors, the media. Press for more and better research of drug usage. Prove some of the claimed ill-effects are grossly exaggerated. It's public opinion you have to change.
detective-boy
16-04-2006, 10:32
But shouldn't they prioritise?
They do.
If they really did want to focus on drug dealing and nothing else you would see dozens of raids like this every night of the week. When did on last take place in Lambeth? How many clubs are there? How much drug dealing and using goes on in them?
But there are still so many more important things they should've been doing than this....I can't believe it was even on their to-do list!
detective-boy
16-04-2006, 10:42
It is to a degree though isn't it? The resources available are finite and if they hadn't been raiding this club they could have been doing something else. That's obvious surely?
The officers running the operation were from the unit responsible for licensed clubs in the MPS area. As such ensuring that the licensing laws (including the laws against the use of controlled drugs within licensed premises) are enforced. So if they weren't doing this they'd be ... er ... enforcing licensing laws in another club.
Most of the uniformed support would, I guess, have come from the Territorial Support Group. They are a reserve of officers available to any division or unit to bolster an operation. If they had another request for their services for the same period then they would prioritise. It may well be the case that the operation had been planned for previous dates when, becausethe TSG had been called away to another, more important assignment, it had to be cancelled. If they had no other specific calls on their time then they would randomly patrol an identified area, responding to emergency calls in groups of five or six or carrying out stop and searches, etc. with very limited knowledge of the area and it's dynamics. Perhaps some would their employment on a focused, intelligence-led operation was a better idea!
Some of the specialist resources (e.g. drug dogs or search officers) have that as a full-time role and spend time on "standby" (doing training or whatever) when not operationally employed. Like the TSG if anyone wanted them for anything more important at the time then they would have been deployed to that.
It is not as simple as "if they weren't doing this they'd be doing something more important". Do you not think the drug laws should be enforced at all? If so, explain how it can be right that the police choose to totally ignore a particular type of criminal offence.
call on their time
Velouria
16-04-2006, 10:45
But there are still so many more important things they should've been doing than this....I can't believe it was even on their to-do list!
Sitting ducks. Easy publicity. Safe for the camera crews and press. Barricade all the exits and no one can get in/out ... Makes it look like they're doing something.
:p :(
timothysutton1
16-04-2006, 10:49
I would imagine this has been done not only to arrest a few drug dealers but also to send a message out to the media that the Brixton Police will not be so tolerant in future. Good thing if you ask me.
Monkeygrinder's Organ
16-04-2006, 10:50
It is not as simple as "if they weren't doing this they'd be doing something more important". Do you not think the drug laws should be enforced at all? If so, explain how it can be right that the police choose to totally ignore a particular type of criminal offence.
call on their time
And for all that it's not as simple, and for all that you've said above, it's still the case that the time could have been used more productively. Police organisational structures aren't some unchangeable law handed down from above.
And the police ignore any number of offences every day, and I know you know this. How many people in Brixton failed to get a response to a burglary, say, yesterday? Some of the officers involved could have been doing that.
Monkeygrinder's Organ
16-04-2006, 10:51
I would imagine this has been done not only to arrest a few drug dealers but also to send a message out to the media that the Brixton Police will not be so tolerant in future. Good thing if you ask me.
And you think it will make any difference? At all?
I seriously doubt it. Next weekend you'll be able to buy pills in clubs in Brixton exactly as easily as this weekend.
I would imagine this has been done not only to arrest a few drug dealers but also to send a message out to the media that the Brixton Police will not be so tolerant in future. Good thing if you ask me.They are not being tolerant in this case. :confused:
Why is intolerance a good thing?
detective-boy
16-04-2006, 11:53
Some of the officers involved could have been doing that.
But they wouldn't have been. There is unlikely to have been ANY direct effect on general policing in Brixton as a result of this operation.
The only way you would make any difference would be close down the Clubs and Vice Unit, the TSG and the other specialist units involved and redeploy their officers to divisions. In which case you would probably find you got no more than a handful per response team back.
And then they would have to do all the things that the disbanded units now do ...
I am not defending the Met's deployment of resources as a whole - in fact I wonder where the hell the police officers have gone from response team policing - but a knee-jerk reaction to an operation like this is simply incorrect which befits the Daily Mail and "Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells".
detective-boy
16-04-2006, 11:56
They are not being tolerant in this case. :confused:
I think you will probably find all except the main targets dealt with by way of caution at worst.
And tolerance is not the same as abandoning all enforcement of a law.
If these operations were being mounted every day, in every area, with no targetting on particular, identified individuals or premises and with everyone found with a small bit of any controlled drug charged and prosecuted then you would be able to say that is intolerance (or zero tolerance as is the fashionable term).
The fact that is has received such coverage should illustrate how rare such a raid now is. We have yet to find out enough about the background to the case but I will be VERY surprised if it does not turn out that the particular venue has, at least in part, been the author of it's own demise and if the targetted dealers do not turn out to have been very, very busy over a long period of time.
detective-boy
16-04-2006, 11:58
Barricade all the exits and no one can get in/out
As opposed the far more sensible tactic of ... er ... leaving the entrances and exits unguarded so that any suspects can escape and anyone wanting to join in for a bundle can do so ... :rolleyes:
lang rabbie
16-04-2006, 12:36
John Roberts, the Metropolitan Police Authority's lead member for Lambeth, said the operation was part of a wider attempt to end the misery that drug dealing caused to the community. Mr Roberts said: "By listening to the community and responding to their concern we can tackle drug dealing in Lambeth."
"Tonight's operation is part of a much bigger picture where, together, the police and the community are targeting the anti-social criminality that drug dealing breeds and the misery that is causes."
He added: "Brixton is saying `enough is enough'. People come to Brixton to have fun and enjoy the nightlife - they do not want to come to clubs where they are being peddled drugs."
I find it hard to believe someone with John Roberts' background (http://www.mpa.gov.uk/about/members/04roberts.htm) would come up with the final sentence unprompted - think it is more likely down to (i) poor subbing by the PA of the Met's press release or (ii)the Met's press office somewhat overdoing it in their attempt to include a quotation from "the community" rather than just from police officers.
detective-boy
16-04-2006, 13:02
I find it hard to believe someone with John Roberts' background (http://www.mpa.gov.uk/about/members/04roberts.htm) would come up with the final sentence unprompted - think it is more likely down to (i) poor subbing by the PA of the Met's press release or (ii)the Met's press office somewhat overdoing it in their attempt to include a quotation from "the community" rather than just from police officers.
For the millionth fucking time ... the Metropolitan Police AUTHORITY is NOT the Metropolitan Police Service. They are policitians, magistrates, lay members who oversee the activity of the MPS. They have their own press department.
They are the COMMUNITY talking (or allegedly so) and telling the police what they want them to do.
See?:
MPA: http://www.mpa.gov.uk/default.htm
MPS: http://www.met.police.uk/
(The clue is in the web address: MPA = .GOV.uk ; MPS = .POLICE.uk)
waverunner
16-04-2006, 13:11
(((detective-boy)))
detective-boy
16-04-2006, 13:37
(((detective-boy)))
Thank you hon.
* Goes for lie down *
linerider
16-04-2006, 13:57
this is less about drugs and more about the local election as far as i can see
Velouria
16-04-2006, 14:19
As opposed the far more sensible tactic of ... er ... leaving the entrances and exits unguarded so that any suspects can escape and anyone wanting to join in for a bundle can do so ... :rolleyes:
As opposed to 'it's far harder to catch street dealers on demand for the camera as they have an awful habit of running away and sometimes escaping, which doesn't make a good photo op' ...
:rolleyes: to you too
There is a point that a law becomes unenforceable, if everybody chooses to ignore it. Here is a classic example of a law that has become very difficult to enforce as everbody seems fully intent on ignoring it, and when they enforce it it pisses off many of the people the police are there to protect.
lostexpectation
16-04-2006, 16:32
It was a gay night that they busted/
More info:
http://www.24dash.com/content/news/viewNews.php?navID=7&newsID=4856
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-1158.html
+BBC
"Around half of the officers stormed the club's front door whilst backup officers (oo-err) covered the rear of the venue that was hosting its weekly Polysexual club night."
There are very nice police press release now wheres the news coverage?
There are very nice police press release now wheres the news coverage?
Er, three articles linkes on p1 of this thread?
Much of the rest is here (http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=brixton+fridge&btnG=Search+News)
E2A: er, misread sarcasm?
I don't really think that concern over whether tonight's "Royal Spectacular" Easter Queen-a-thon would go ahead would feature heavily in a Met press release, even these days :)
William of Walworth
16-04-2006, 18:19
I would imagine this has been done not only to arrest a few drug dealers but also to send a message out to the media that the Brixton Police will not be so tolerant in future. Good thing if you ask me.
But you didn't read this, a few posts up from yours, did you?
The officers running the operation were from the unit responsible for licensed clubs in the MPS area. As such ensuring that the licensing laws (including the laws against the use of controlled drugs within licensed premises) are enforced. So if they weren't doing this they'd be ... er ... enforcing licensing laws in another club.
It wasn't the 'Brixton Police' in other words.
Would want to know more about detail here, tempted as I am to agree with han and Monkeygrinders -- it could well be that there was some organised, larger scale regular Class A dealing that MAY have been (in effect) ignored by in house security.
Wednesdayite
16-04-2006, 18:19
All that attention focused on The Fridge, but can somebody with a little inside police knowledge tell me why it's still not safe to walk anywhere between Lorn Road / Vassall Road junctions of Brixton Road at night, and why, the last time I relayed my concerns to a police officer about the hassle I have had from crack dealer scum and general harassment from loiterers, I was told it wasn't their patch and to go and complain at Kennington Nick? Joined-up policing?
This is not having a go, I am just curious.
The Community Police Consultative Group for Lambeth were given notice of this operation. Two of its Board attended the briefing earlier in the evening and were able to enter the club just after the first officers, to go where they wanted and speak to whom they wanted. We (one man, one woman) were clearly identifiable as independent observers, and we were able to explain who we were, to listen reactions to the raid and too reassure urselves that the proper protocols around searches and so on were being followed.
On the raid itself:
1. There was a pretty low key atmosphere in the club, in spite of (perhaps because of) the large number of police officers involved - pretty much like a party that had fizzled out early. Of the people we spoke to, most seemed philosophical, although one older guy who'd clearly been supping all day issued a torrent of abuse on whosoever went within earshot!
2. Most people I spoke to seemed to understand that local people were fed up with the notion that Brixton is a place to come and buy or sell drugs, and that the raid was part of that. although they were disappointed that their evening was brought to a close before it had barely started.
3. We had of course queried the proportionality of the raid ie whether it was necessary to use so many officers to arrest a small number of dealers of whom the police already had intelligence, not only in terms of the resource cost but also the impact of a large police contingent turning up in Brixton on a Saturday night.
The police's response was (1) that an operation such as this also entails a certain amount of evidence gathering which has to be done quickly and (in this case) throughout a large venue and (2) there had been a risk-assessment which had to cover the eventuality that it could go the wrong way eg someone pulls a knife, and both clubbers and police are put at risk. There comes a point where we have to have a regard for the police's professional assessment and to recognise that if they attempted an operation such as this with too few officers, and it went wrong, we'd all be very quick to (properly) fault them.
The question of the return on the outlay will be something that we shall take up when the full outcomes from the operation are reported.
The more general issue, of the distinctions between drug use and drug dealing, is a much more difficult one for the community (and for the police). It's clear that (at one end of the scale) there is widespread concern about open dealing in crack cocaine and heroin, or for cannabis dealing where it is in-your-face in the town centre, for example. But there is a much more varied attitude to the possession and use of 'recreational' drugs. Devising a policy which attracts the widest community consent, focussing first and foremost on dealing in the most dangerous drugs, is not an easy matter. It's inevitable that people who are not dealing, buying or selling, will get drawn into such a policy, given that the police have an obligation to enforce the law as it stands. People whom a sizable (though perhaps minority) section of the community do not regard as 'criminals' will be criminalised. We need to be clear, as a community, that if we wish to address dealing across the board, there will be costs that not everyone will be comfortable with and to find the best ways we can to determine where the community, in the broadest sense, wants the balance struck.
You can make your views known through the CPCG (contact details here (http://www.lambethcpcg.org.uk)) or by turning up at any of the monthly public meetings.
DJWrongspeed
16-04-2006, 20:28
Thank u CPCG for explain this all to us, a worthy post indeed, i can understand the logic, it's weird it's all in the news maybe nuffin else is worth reporting right now! ;)
as far as remember the Fridge used to know when they were gonna be raided in the past, now they have different owners, perhaps they're not clued up.....
William of Walworth
16-04-2006, 21:49
Interesting that two of the Community Police Consultative Group attended the raid, when it wasn't even the Lambeth Police directly involved, but a central squad ...
It was a Lambeth initiative.
it's weird it's all in the news maybe nuffin else is worth reporting right now! ;)
Easter weekend I guess, not much to report in genreal.
I told a mate that 'the fridge was raided' and he was like, what? :D
subversplat
16-04-2006, 22:23
Easter weekend I guess, not much to report in genreal.
I told a mate that 'the fridge was raided' and he was like, what? :D
Fridge gets raided, diets in peril :D
RushcroftRoader
16-04-2006, 23:24
looks likes the raid was as much about sending a message about dealing in Brixton as actually nicking a few scumbags.
Lots of "responding to community concerns" etc in PR outpourings from Lambeth police.
Can't be a bad thing in the long run. But how much did this operation cost? 200 officers!!
Geez, lets have a few more bobbies on the beat every night rather than carrying out headline grabbing raids like this one!
Wednesdayite
17-04-2006, 00:48
looks likes the raid was as much about sending a message about dealing in Brixton as actually nicking a few scumbags.
Lots of "responding to community concerns" etc in PR outpourings from Lambeth police.
Can't be a bad thing in the long run. But how much did this operation cost? 200 officers!!
Geez, lets have a few more bobbies on the beat every night rather than carrying out headline grabbing raids like this one!
Yeh! A few more bobbies on the beat! I suggest North Brixton - Jamm (Bar Lorca) onwards - north up to Oval...
Please?
Pretty Please MPS? Or Lambeth Police? Anyone? Right now I would take Police Academy - 1 to 5 is fine. Or even fucking Chief Wiggum.
Anyone listening? I thought this was suppposed to be policing by CONSENT? Well, I give my pleading CONSENT for more bobbies up there...
Brixton Hatter
17-04-2006, 06:08
...Anyone listening? I thought this was suppposed to be policing by CONSENT? Well, I give my pleading CONSENT for more bobbies up there...anyone with views on the police raid should email the Lambeth Community Police Consultative Group by clicking here (admin@lambethcpcg.org.uk)
detective-boy
17-04-2006, 08:04
...I was told it wasn't their patch and to go and complain at Kennington Nick? Joined-up policing?
If you were told that by a police officer then it is not acceptable. The approach would not be endorsed by senior managers. It would not be acceptable even if you complained at Brixton about something which was happening in (eg) Barnet but Kennington is part of the same borough police unit.
You would be perfectly entitled to complain and I would encourage you to do so - if it were me I would make it plain I did not want some form of major enquiry launched but simply for the officer to be advised that their approach is unacceptable.
detective-boy
17-04-2006, 08:10
The Community Police Consultative Group for Lambeth were given notice of this operation. Two of its Board attended the briefing earlier in the evening and were able to enter the club just after the first officers, to go where they wanted and speak to whom they wanted. We (one man, one woman) were clearly identifiable as independent observers, and we were able to explain who we were, to listen reactions to the raid and too reassure urselves that the proper protocols around searches and so on were being followed. ...
The question of the return on the outlay will be something that we shall take up when the full outcomes from the operation are reported. ...
You can make your views known through the CPCG (contact details here (http://www.lambethcpcg.org.uk)) or by turning up at any of the monthly public meetings.
Oh dear! A Community Police Consultative Group ... er ... being consulted, observing, questioning and seeking views ... where WILL it all end!!! ;)
(I used to love attending your meetings by the way - my Chief Superintendent at the time (Ted Peel) was a bit prone to throw the Inspector's responsible for the latest saga to the lions rather than take the flak himself. I know some of my colleagues used to hide under their desk as a result but I loved welcomed the opportunity to explain and, if necessary, apologise for getting something wrong ... never a dull moment indeed!!!!)
detective-boy
17-04-2006, 08:20
Interesting that two of the Community Police Consultative Group attended the raid, when it wasn't even the Lambeth Police directly involved, but a central squad ...
From what they say, it sounds more like a Lambeth problem which was then referred UP to the central unit for action on behalf of the local borough for whom the operation had got too big (one of the options I mentioned earlier on the other thread in the General forum http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=4435868&postcount=42).
Even if it had been an entirely central unit initiative, planning for ALL operations now includes a consideration of the community impact. In the case of an operation on this scale it would be inevitable that that assessment involved contact with the local police division and, via them, with appropriate community groups (including the CPCG) as and when possible (sometimes in advance, as here, or sometimes as the operation commences if there are any fears of word leaking out).
It is good to see that the CPCG will ensure that they ask questions of the cost-benefit analysis in due course. That, for me, seems to be only issue - the operation has otherwise gone well.
Wednesdayite
17-04-2006, 17:03
If you were told that by a police officer then it is not acceptable. The approach would not be endorsed by senior managers. It would not be acceptable even if you complained at Brixton about something which was happening in (eg) Barnet but Kennington is part of the same borough police unit.
You would be perfectly entitled to complain and I would encourage you to do so - if it were me I would make it plain I did not want some form of major enquiry launched but simply for the officer to be advised that their approach is unacceptable.
Thanks for this. At least I don't feel like such an idiot now, as I did when I was told to go to Kennington.
By the way, 200 coppers raid the Fridge - that's a lot of hungry coppers!!! :)
RushcroftRoader
17-04-2006, 17:40
Thanks for this. At least I don't feel like such an idiot now, as I did when I was told to go to Kennington.
By the way, 200 coppers raid the Fridge - that's a lot of hungry coppers!!! :)
anyone with a burger van close by must have done well!
:D
lang rabbie
17-04-2006, 18:00
For the millionth fucking time ... the Metropolitan Police AUTHORITY is NOT the Metropolitan Police Service. They are policitians, magistrates, lay members who oversee the activity of the MPS. They have their own press department.
They are the COMMUNITY talking (or allegedly so) and telling the police what they want them to do.
Strangely enough, I knew that. And I have a sneaking suspicion that the MPA's press office is not heavily staffed over bank holiday weekends.
What I wanted to know was by what process did that quote (apparently out of touch with reality IMHO) end up being attributed by the Press Association to "independent" John Roberts in a story that otherwise appeared to be a cut and paste from a Metropolitan Police press release. :confused:
London_Calling
17-04-2006, 19:34
this is less about drugs and more about the local election as far as i can see
This is an outrageous suggestion.
Don't forget how concerned your local elected representatives are about your community.
Polling Day 4th May, folks !
Mr Retro
18-04-2006, 10:09
The Fridge owners/management are allegedly dodgy as fuck.
I can't put up details but I know of somebody I know who was the victim of serious crime on the premises and was advised that pursuing it through the police was not advisable and could result in him or members of his family getting into serious trouble.
If the police raiding the premises was just for drug dealers then I think this is too much of a coincidence.
PacificOcean
18-04-2006, 10:32
Well we can all sleep soundly now that people who had chosen to go to a club and to buy drugs of their own free will will no longer be able to do so.
Just think of the drop in muggings now that clubbers are unable to buy Es on a Saturday night.
Least crack addicts won't be affected by this, as a quick walk down Coldhabour Lane on Monday, I was offered drugs twice.
detective-boy
18-04-2006, 10:49
What I wanted to know was by what process did that quote (apparently out of touch with reality IMHO) end up being attributed by the Press Association to "independent" John Roberts in a story that otherwise appeared to be a cut and paste from a Metropolitan Police press release. :confused:
I would think the journo just took bits and pieces from whatever they had to hand. The MPA do issue their own press releases but sometimes, in the case of pre-planned operations, they may do a joint one with the Met. I've seen quotes from police officers included in MPA releases as well as quotes from the MPA in police ones.
In fairness to John Roberts, the quote taken on it's own does seem somewhat out of touch with reality and he is not normally like that. I suspect it is a single sentence taken out of context to some extent.
boozybirdie
19-04-2006, 15:02
Naaaah. Fabric or Heaven would still have made the headlines. Still, drugs in the Fridge. Who'dathunkit? Is nowhere safe? You'll be telling me there's drugs in George IV or the Telegraph next...
The only reason this happened on this night, at this time was because they knew it would be mainly white people (so no fear of being called racist) & it would be pretty empty (so not too much work would need to be done).
If they really wanted a full crackdown then why not raid 10 bars / clubs with just 20 officers per place all at the same time and actually get a hell of a lot more dealers.
And just because undercover police catch drug dealers / takers in licenced premises does not make all bar / club owners and managers irresponsible, incompetent and unwilling to work with police. The police should take the responsibility that if they could control them in the first place then they would not be in the bars / clubs!
boozybirdie
19-04-2006, 15:19
Thank u CPCG for explain this all to us, a worthy post indeed, i can understand the logic, it's weird it's all in the news maybe nuffin else is worth reporting right now! ;)
as far as remember the Fridge used to know when they were gonna be raided in the past, now they have different owners, perhaps they're not clued up.....
Good point, it's amazing what money can buy.....
Apparently the Fridge have been ordered to start using sniffer dogs and do compulsory body searches! :eek:
Mass could get the same treatment too.
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200southlondonheadlines/tm_objectid=17037192&method=full&siteid=50100&headline=sniffer-dogs-may-be-next-guests-at-club-name_page.html
Brixton Hatter
08-05-2006, 21:32
A trained paramedic would also have to be at the premises at all times and would be told to keep an eye out for anyone showing signs of drug-taking.hahaha :D
this bit is interesting though:
Evidence supplied by the cops suggests the club has been sold recently and no application has been made to transfer the licence, making it illegal for the venue to sell alcohol. Mystery surrounds the new owners, who are described as "a consortium of Chinese businessmen", but the police have been unable to contact them.
Minnie_the_Minx
09-05-2006, 09:24
Oh, maybe we're getting a new Chinese takeaway :D
Sorry :o
I'd be a bit worried if it was a Japanese consortium. Might end up as a huge karaoke club
detective-boy
19-07-2006, 10:49
But there are still so many more important things they should've been doing than this....I can't believe it was even on their to-do list!
Clearly the judge disagreed:
In the Evening Standard yesterday, tucked away in the News-in-Brief column on page 14 or something was an item which reported that a drug dealer arrested in this operation (who was from Harrow) was sentenced to six years imprisonment for supplying cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine.
And while I'm here, you know everyone was suggesting that these sorts of operations happen all the time and are a total waste of police time, etc. ... has anyone noticed any since?
Clearly the judge disagreed:
In the Evening Standard yesterday, tucked away in the News-in-Brief column on page 14 or something was an item which reported that a drug dealer arrested in this operation (who was from Harrow) was sentenced to six years imprisonment for supplying cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine.
Which has not stopped those who want cocaine, ecstasy or ketamine from buying it, at all, I suspect.
Giles..
PacificOcean
19-07-2006, 12:24
Which has not stopped those who want cocaine, ecstasy or ketamine from buying it, at all, I suspect.
Giles..
And are the users of those drugs the ones that cause most of Brixton's problems anyway?
EastEnder
19-07-2006, 12:56
In the Evening Standard yesterday, tucked away in the News-in-Brief column on page 14 or something was an item which reported that a drug dealer arrested in this operation (who was from Harrow) was sentenced to six years imprisonment for supplying cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine.
With our bizarre judicial system, he'd probably have got a shorter sentence for committing murder......:rolleyes:
PacificOcean
19-07-2006, 13:12
With our bizarre judicial system, he'd probably have got a shorter sentence for committing murder......:rolleyes:
I have never understood why drug dealing carries such heavy custodial penalties.
RushcroftRoader
19-07-2006, 13:18
it does seem like a hefty sentence for somebody supplying a few clubbing pills. Meanwhile South London's crack mountain grows ever larger...
:mad:
EastEnder
19-07-2006, 13:19
I have never understood why drug dealing carries such heavy custodial penalties.
It's obviously so much worse than murder, rape, child molesting, etc...:rolleyes:
Dubversion
19-07-2006, 13:20
it does seem like a hefty sentence for somebody supplying a few clubbing pills. Meanwhile South London's crack mountain grows ever larger...
:mad:
any idea where they keep it?
Clearly the judge disagreed:
In the Evening Standard yesterday, tucked away in the News-in-Brief column on page 14 or something was an item which reported that a drug dealer arrested in this operation (who was from Harrow) was sentenced to six years imprisonment for supplying cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine.
And while I'm here, you know everyone was suggesting that these sorts of operations happen all the time and are a total waste of police time, etc. ... has anyone noticed any since?
So...
Q: How many policeman does it take to catch one drug-dealer...?
A: More than two hundred...!
Strange, I can usually find them quite easily in clubs...
RushcroftRoader
19-07-2006, 13:25
any idea where they keep it?
Only the squirrels know, and they are not saying...
RushcroftRoader
19-07-2006, 13:27
It's obviously so much worse than murder, rape, child molesting, etc...:rolleyes:
But not as bad as using your hosepipe to water the garden. that's 10 years without parole!
PacificOcean
19-07-2006, 13:31
*goes off to water crack mountain with hosepipe*
Streathamite
19-07-2006, 14:18
The question is whether or not the public at large are out of touch. I suspect majority views are changing as generations familiar with the club scene grow older but until the public at large (via their politicians) change their minds about the illegality of drugs then it will remain illegal and the police will have to take some action against them.
errr...don't you think the more germane question is how out of touch the people who make all the laws are? In my (hefty) experience of them, in their insular world they invariably lag well behind public opinion
Yossarian
19-07-2006, 14:20
With our bizarre judicial system, he'd probably have got a shorter sentence for committing murder......:rolleyes:
Six years sounds well fuckng harsh, especially as I consider anybody selling Es and K to be providing a valuable public service!
Monkeygrinder's Organ
19-07-2006, 14:22
any idea where they keep it?
You know the hill in Brockwell Park?
I spotted a load of doozers mining crack there the other day.:(
Streathamite
19-07-2006, 14:27
Six years sounds well fuckng harsh, especially as I consider anybody selling Es and K to be providing a valuable public service!
spot on!
So, as a result of this raid...
handful of people nicked,
chance of their trade and supply won't continue in someone else's hands - zero
number people persuaded that taking drugs is a really bad idea - zero.
amount which the Great drugs Debate has advanced - zero.
Number of people jailed for providing someone with something which won't kill him or anyone, and which they freely purchased - one.
amount of money spent on achieving FUCK ALL as a result of all this - I shudder to think.
detective-boy
19-07-2006, 16:14
errr...don't you think the more germane question is how out of touch the people who make all the laws are? In my (hefty) experience of them, in their insular world they invariably lag well behind public opinion
I quite agree (especially in relation to drugs). But the point is that you cannot expect the police to turn a blind eye to a dealer operating to the extent that it merits a six year sentence as the law stands at present. Particularly as the nature of the operation suggests that the owners of the premises were, at best, failing to notice what was going on in their premises.
detective-boy
19-07-2006, 16:16
spot on!
So, as a result of this raid...
handful of people nicked,
chance of their trade and supply won't continue in someone else's hands - zero
number people persuaded that taking drugs is a really bad idea - zero.
amount which the Great drugs Debate has advanced - zero.
Number of people jailed for providing someone with something which won't kill him or anyone, and which they freely purchased - one.
amount of money spent on achieving FUCK ALL as a result of all this - I shudder to think.
Large licensed premises prevented from descending further into the control of drug dealers - one.
Which, as I have said from the start, was probably one of the principle reasons for the operation being conducted in the way it was.
Streathamite
19-07-2006, 16:32
Large licensed premises prevented from descending further into the control of drug dealers - one.
Which, as I have said from the start, was probably one of the principle reasons for the operation being conducted in the way it was.
but it has always been, for as long as I've been going there, 'in the control of drug dealers' in that they can operate freely there.
And most of the patrons have absolutely no objection to the premises 'descending further' etc (I know - I go to the Fridge often), and would rather see more drugs in there, not less. :confused:
I should explain; I am NOT having a pop at dibble. they have to implement the Law - even tragically, crazily, archaically bad laws. And I appreciate that they are damned if they ndo, damned if they don't - if you raid, people like me scream with fury, if you don't, the bluerinse set from bromley scream even louder. You really are in a no-win situation.
I just fail to see how the local community, wider society, or the Fridge clientele have a net benefit from this. I can guarantee that the next night at the Fridge will see the drugs circulating freely as ever.
RushcroftRoader
19-07-2006, 16:45
but it has always been, for as long as I've been going there, 'in the control of drug dealers' in that they can operate freely there.
And most of the patrons have absolutely no objection to the premises 'descending further' etc (I know - I go to the Fridge often), and would rather see more drugs in there, not less. :confused:
I should explain; I am NOT having a pop at dibble. they have to implement the Law - even tragically, crazily, archaically bad laws. And I appreciate that they are damned if they ndo, damned if they don't - if you raid, people like me scream with fury, if you don't, the bluerinse set from bromley scream even louder. You really are in a no-win situation.
I just fail to see how the local community, wider society, or the Fridge clientele have a net benefit from this. I can guarantee that the next night at the Fridge will see the drugs circulating freely as ever.
I guess the trouble is that there is not nearly enough discretion when it comes to handing down sentances for drug dealers. But we dont know what other little nasties that guy was handing out, what drugs networks have been disrupted and whether it hit the profits of the guys at the top of teh drug food chain who probably make and sell crack etc as well.
We may agree that clubbing drugs - for want of a better description - are a lot less harmful to society than crack being sold on the streets, but it is impossible to deferentiate between dealers to a large extent in the eyes of the law. The only way of doing it would be to create additional classes of drugs, each with their own prison time for deales. So we get class A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H etc. Maybe that would work.
They should legalise it and sell the lot in Boots. End of most problems.
No more wasting police time, prison places on people merely selling that which people want to buy, to put in their own bodies.
Maybe they could sell pills in clubs along with bottles of water, beers etc.
And have special snorting cubicles with nice mirrors.
Yeah, some people would still fuck themselves up.
But they already do, and it would be entirely their own fault.
Giles..
OpalFruit
19-07-2006, 17:14
And do we know what scale of dealer this guy is?
Hopefully one of considerable impact - that's quite a sentence, so he may have had loads and loads.
And I agree with Detective-Boy about 1 less venue in the hands of drug gangs. That's the problem - not the odd individual and an E.
But agree with Giles more.
detective-boy
19-07-2006, 17:34
And most of the patrons have absolutely no objection to the premises 'descending further' etc (I know - I go to the Fridge often), and would rather see more drugs in there, not less. :confused:
I'm not referring to "descending" as increased drug use.
I'm referring to descending into the control of the place falls into the hands of the drug dealers. Then guns appear. And protection rackets. And people start getting assaulted, and raped, and killed.
It happens. I've seen it happen. You really do NOT want a venue of that size falling into the hands of the really bad guys.
Streathamite
19-07-2006, 19:26
Of course I don't - that would be a nightmare. I know it can happen too - i saw it happen in Manchester in the early 90s. it was awful.
however, i've been going to the Fridge since the late 80s. throughout that time, there has been roughly the same levels of widespread drug dealing and usage.
to my - admittedly untrained - eye, the place hasn't seemed that much under the control of the tooled-up gangsters brigade. not once. i've never once seen anyone pull a piece, or even agro between dealers.
all i can go by is evidence of my own eyes. There really has never seemed to me to be a problem of that nature.:confused:
Generally, in E-d up venues, you don't get much aggro.
Not like you do in R&B, garage & hip-hop clubs, where all the dealers (and half the punters!) seem to regard packing a knife or even a gun as as much of an essential as I do bringing my keys, my wallet and maybe a comb!
Giles..
Generally, in E-d up venues, you don't get much aggro.
Not like you do in R&B, garage & hip-hop clubs, where all the dealers (and half the punters!) seem to regard packing a knife or even a gun as as much of an essential as I do bringing my keys, my wallet and maybe a comb!
Yep, and these are also the same nights that sell the most alchohol...! :rolleyes:
Streathamite
20-07-2006, 10:22
that's true - they sell shitloads of champers, poncy designer beers and upmarket spirits in R&B clubs
2 Hardcore
20-07-2006, 10:36
Generally, in E-d up venues, you don't get much aggro.
Agreed. And the random pissheads really stand out.
Also lots of door staff and taxi drivers have told me they'd prefer to work at/pick up fares from those types of venue, as people tend usually to be so much more friendly/so much less trouble.
PacificOcean
20-07-2006, 11:10
I'm referring to descending into the control of the place falls into the hands of the drug dealers. Then guns appear. And protection rackets. And people start getting assaulted, and raped, and killed.
It happens. I've seen it happen. You really do NOT want a venue of that size falling into the hands of the really bad guys.
But why would drug gangs run the place like that? People would stop going which isn't a very good business model for drug dealing.
detective-boy
20-07-2006, 16:59
But why would drug gangs run the place like that? People would stop going which isn't a very good business model for drug dealing.
Don't ask me mate. It's just what they do. They get to the point where they think they can do what they like and it goes down hill from there ...
2 Hardcore
20-07-2006, 17:23
Don't ask me mate. It's just what they do. They get to the point where they think they can do what they like and it goes down hill from there ...
I may be wrong, but....
My perception is that whether or not this happens frequently has to do with which drugs are being sold, and their users.
Clubs which have problems like this tend, it seems, to be the r'n'b and garage venues, where there's a lot of coke used; coke tends to have two particularly problematic effects (in this context) on many users - (1) ego the size of a house, plus (2) paranoia to match - the two factors seem to be a recipe for violence between users ('hey you stop eyeing up my woman', or 'I don't like the way you're looking at me', for example); and with so much money involved, the systemic violence amongst dealers, especially if they're users, might be almost inevitable.
ovaltina
06-11-2008, 10:34
From another forum (i really should do some work at some point today):
passing The Fridge, which has sat empty for a long, long time, I noticed that it had an announcement on the canopy (first time that the letters have been changed since I reviewed Beyond there the night that Matinée launched at Fabric) saying that the old owners have now taken back control.
Does this mean that it could creak back to life?
and
The notice on the doors says that the landlords 'Fire Limited' have re-entered the premises and changed the locks.
http://scene-out.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3528&d=1225840284
Anyone know what's going on? Has The Fridge gone back to Fire/Orange? If so thi smay not be entirely good news, given how dire Fire has been for the last year. :(
ovaltina
17-11-2008, 19:15
went past today and it said andrew czawski (sp?) is back in charge. he's the chap who ran love muscle back in the 90s! it'd be nice if he put some decent nights back on.
Here's the full Press Association report of what happened:
200 POLICE IN DRUGS RAID AT TOP LONDON CLUB
By Neville Dean, PA Crime Correspondent
Eleven people have been arrested following a drugs raid at a top London
nightclub.
More than 200 officers swooped on The Fridge in Brixton, south London, last
night to investigate allegations of Class A drug dealing.
Scotland Yard said four men and two women were held on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A substances.
Five people were arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A substances.
They are all in custody and will be questioned later today.
The spokesman added that four people received formal warnings for possession of a small amount of cannabis, while a further nine will be investigated after they were found to be in possession of a small amount of Class A substances.
Officers recovered drugs, believed to be cocaine and ecstasy, and a large
amount of money in the raid which followed a two-month covert intelligence
operation, police said.
The dramatic raid was triggered by a command "attack, attack" at just after
11.25pm as clubbers were arriving for the start of the venue's "Polysexual"
night.
Scores of officers then burst in through the front door while others covered
the rear. Police intelligence suggested the alleged dealing was taking place inside and around the female toilets. Earlier yesterday, in connection with the raid, a 29-year-old man was arrested in Harrow, north-west London, on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
The operation, codenamed Atuna, was led by CO14, Scotland Yard's specialist Clubs and Vice unit, and included officers from the Territorial Support Group. They swept into the club - which is housed in an old converted cinema - took control of the foyer and the dancefloor, turned the music off and the lights up.
Plain-clothes officers, operating undercover, were inside the club as the raid
began. Around 130 clubbers were inside at the time of the raid, although it has the capacity for many more. Some clubbers were then brought into the foyer and searched for drugs.
Senior officers were keen to stress that the raid was not targeted at a
particular type of music or style of event, but was instead designed to meet
community concerns.
However, many disgruntled revellers who had to leave the venue complained that their night had been ruined, and asked why it was necessary to halt the night rather than just remove the alleged dealers.
Chief Superintendent Martin Bridger, Borough Commander for Lambeth, apologised to those who had travelled a long way to the club only to see their night end prematurely. He said that substances thought to be ecstasy and cocaine had been found at the club, and insisted that drug dealing had to be tackled.
"Drug dealers and the misery they cause are not welcome in Lambeth.
"The local community and police will not tolerate their criminal
behaviour."
Mr Bridger indicated that the venue's licence would now be reviewed.
"What is clear is that there will be a review of the premises and the control
mechanisms they have in place for keeping drugs out of the premises," he said.
Inspector Chris Bedwell, from the Clubs and Vice Unit, said: "Thousands of
people flood into the capital's world famous nightclubs every weekend.
"It is our job to work closely with the licensees, club owners and councils
to make sure that these clubbers are safe.
"If these clubs are turning a blind eye to Class A drugs being sold inside
then we have a duty to act and deal with these people so that a majority who go to pubs and clubs in London can do so in a safe crime-free environment."
Mr Bedwell said the alleged dealing inside the club was "blatant and
obvious" and that the intelligence operation had been running for as long as
five months.
Uniformed police officers formed a cordon around the entrance early today and handed out leaflets to clubbers that explained why the raid was taking place.John Roberts, the Metropolitan Police Authority's lead member for Lambeth, said the operation was part of a wider attempt to end the misery that drug dealing caused to the community.
Mr Roberts said: "By listening to the community and responding to their
concern we can tackle drug dealing in Lambeth.
"Tonight's operation is part of a much bigger picture where, together, the
police and the community are targeting the anti-social criminality that drug
dealing breeds and the misery that is causes."
He added: "Brixton is saying `enough is enough'. People come to Brixton to
have fun and enjoy the nightlife - they do not want to come to clubs where they are being peddled drugs."
The Fridge nightclub started in the early 1980s and moved into the converted
cinema in 1985.
For 'Italian Job' fans, there may be a certain comedy factor in a copper named 'Mr Bridger', tee hee.
They did a massive raid on a Plymouth club a while ago, The Dance Academy, which has been shut down ever since. It's ridiculous to expect a club to operate a completely clean house, though. There'll always be a demand for drugs and where there's a demand then there'll be a supply the same as for any other commodity.
And shutting down a club is unlikely to put more than a temporary pinprick in the profits of whichever gang is operating there as they'll only be back again when the place reopens under new management.
I remember a former workmate of mine who moonlighted as a bouncer on Union Street in Plymouth (a fun place to be a bouncer, I don't think) and he told me that they'd often turn a blind eye to one dealer or firm of dealers in order to avoid a perpetual turf war between rival firms all trying to control the dealing in the same club. Whether or not that's standard practice among bouncers around the country I don't know.
I think you have to look at the Hacienda, probably the 1st proper pill club to realise what happens if you don't let one gang or another control the place.
I think there was at least one shooting a month, some as often as once a week.
ovaltina
22-11-2008, 13:25
the owners of Fire have been evicted from the Fridge nightclub and that the Love Muscle creators "Andrew Czezowski and Susan Carrington have resumed control.
http://discodamaged.typepad.com/ddnews/2008/11/fridge-back-in-old-hands.html
Interesting! I'd love to see decent nights back on at The Fridge but it sounds like the venue is beyond dilapadated these days. Fingers crossed :)
eta - and there's more... Orange (owner of Fire) is saying it's leaving Brixton because of homophobia :rolleyes: - not because it's lost the plot and started running out of money. Oh no.
http://www.homovision.tv/orange-leaving-brixton-because-of-homophobia/
I'd love to see the Fridge used as a live venue again. I've seen some excellent shows there.
DJWrongspeed
22-11-2008, 14:38
I'd love to see the Fridge used as a live venue again. I've seen some excellent shows there.
Exactly , maybe when the Astoria closes it will have more of a chance, has tons more atmosphere than that O2 complex. Problem is it needs loadsa work done on it I heard, roof etc
i went to Love Muscle @ The Fridge in the early 90s when i was about 18 or so and twatted and wanting a night out late after we couldn't get in to see The Orb @ the Academy.
bit of an eye opener it was as i had no idea what was on :D
sounds like the venue is beyond dilapadated these days.
There is very often water flowing out from under the door on the very right of the front of the building, nearest to the Town Hall.
went past today and it said andrew czawski (sp?) is back in charge. he's the chap who ran love muscle back in the 90s! it'd be nice if he put some decent nights back on.Yeah, the legal notices people have seen relate to AC repossessing the premises from Fire/Orange.
AC has the head-lease for quite a while yet. Mind you, I'm not sure he's ever managed to run a financially stable business there. For as long as I can remember the Fridge has always seemed to stagger from crisis to crisis, so we'll have to see ...
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