Lava Ignite's licence suspended over student death

It is believed that a fire alarm went off and the students panicked as they were told that buses back to the university were set to leave, which led to a stampede.

Northamptonshire Police asked Northampton Borough Council to hold a summary review, also known as an expedited or emergency review under Section 53 of the Licensing Act 2003, into the premises licence for Lava Ignite.

As a result, a special sub-committee of the licensing panel is met this morning to consider evidence put forward by the police and decide what action to take.

Expedited reviews allow the police and the licensing authority to respond quickly when a serious incident of any kind takes place in a licensed premises. It allows the local authority to take action immediately, where appropriate, pending a full review.

The sub-committee agreed to suspend Lava & Ignite’s license of for up to 28 days when a full review will be heard by the Council’s Licensing Committee.

Julie Seddon, Northampton Borough Council’s director for environment and culture said: “The Licensing Committee has decided that; due to the severity of the incidents reported, the loss of life and the number of serious injuries, the only viable course of action is to Suspend the Premises Licence.

“This is an interim decision and a full hearing into the licence will be held within the next 28 days.”

Northamptonshire Police said that three other people were injured – two critically – at the nightclub “thought to be the result of crushing, but the police investigation into this incident is continuing to establish what happened”.

A statement from Luminar said: “We can confirm that tragically one person died and two people were injured at the Lava Ignite Nightclub in Northampton in the early hours of the morning on Wednesday 19 October.

“The club management and staff are cooperating fully with the local police to find out exactly what happened and meanwhile, the club will be shut for the foreseeable future.

“The thoughts of everyone at Lava Ignite are with the families of those involved at this time.”