A full review of Dreamland’s licence will be held today (July 24) following the death of teenager Emily Stokes – who had been attending a Worried About Henry event at the park on June 29 – and 21 other under 18s at the gig taken to hospital with one in a medically induced coma.
Kent Police requested the full review following interim measures being put in place on July 9 which included the cancellation of all drum and bass events, increased security staff and all under 18’s to be accompanied by an adult 25 years and over.
Seventeen-year-old Emily was declared dead at QEQM Hospital at 5.58pm on Saturday 29 June following a suspected MDMA overdose.
An additional 21 patients, aged 15 to 18, were admitted to hospital suffering with similar symptoms relating to a drugs overdose, all of whom had been at the Dreamland event.
The tragedy prompted police to declare a major incident, undertake an investigation and request the five interim measures followed by a full review.
Sands Heritage Ltd (“SHL”) are the premises licence holders for Dreamland. The owners of the park are now Live Nation subsidiary LN-Gaiety.
Teen shown on CCTV removing ‘drug pills’ from bra
A submission from SHL to the hearing says operations director Shane Guy has handed over CCTV footage “showing Emily removing a bag of what appeared to be drug pills concealed in her bra and swallowing a pill and handing drugs to two of her friends. She was found in an intoxicated state, and told medical staff that she had also taken a pill before entering the site. She was transported to hospital, but sadly died.”
The submission adds: “ A large number of people were taken to hospital with drug intoxication. It is not known whether all were intoxicated with the same substances or where the supplies took place. It is a fair inference that a seriously harmful batch was in circulation in Margate or further afield on the day of the event.”
Security at the gig
SHL says there was security including stewards amounting to 49 operatives and drug detection dogs and general purpose patrol dogs were utilised for the event.
They say a detailed search was in place, including full pat downs and bag searches and there was a fully staffed and equipped medical facility operating on site, plus a private ambulance kept on site in case of need.
SHL disputes previous police comment that of the 7,027 tickets sold for the event, 700 were on the door.
They say: “There were 7,027 tickets sold in advance for the WAH event which included 342 to under 18’s (16 and 17 year olds) and no tickets were sold on the door.
“No criticism has been directed at SHL by the statutory authorities arising from this tragic incident and there is no suggestion that any licence condition was breached.
“Following a fatality SHL regard it as entirely fair for the Police to have brought this review, so as to enable the licensing authority to satisfy itself that appropriate and proportionate measures are being taken to avoid similar incidents in the future.”
“Scourge of unlawful drugs in society”
SHL has a proposed list of conditions for the licence which include:
Creating a formal Safety Advisory Group to discuss and advise on events at Dreamland including scrutiny of Event Management Plans.
Detailed conditions regarding drugs, age verification, security and stewarding, medical facilities and noise.
These include training for all security and stewarding staff including training for age verification, ihow to identify fake ID and how to use identification scanners.
SHL says: “This review has arisen because of a tragic event which arose, not through the fault of SHL, but because of the scourge of unlawful drugs in society. SHL takes, and will continue to take such measures as it can to keep its customers safe, and has proposed a series of further measures to formalise existing processes and to strengthen partnership working.”
Fourteen public representations have been made in response to a call for views on the licence with some complaints about noise and others highlighting a need for better security.
Trespass on Margate rail network to gain entry to Dreamland
A submission from Southeastern, Network Rail Southern Region and British Transport Police says they “welcome the opportunities that Dreamland at Margate are bringing to the recovery of the local economy and rail network” but adds there are concerns including incidents of trespass and disorder onto the railway, creating significant safety concerns.
A letter says: “Unfortunately, we have recently seen numerous trespass incidents on the rail network at Margate station during and after Dreamland events. On Saturday 29 June, despite agencies (NR, Southeastern, BTP) being deployed along the route, there were multiple instances of trespass by youths climbing fences and crossing live rails to access Dreamland.
“The youths were seen climbing over scaffolding, scaling the fences of businesses that back onto the railway, climbing onto bins of local flats and over private fencing and low walls.
“ An estimated 40 youths accessed the track during the day, putting their lives at risk from electrocution or being hit by a train and causing disruption across the network as safety protocols were implemented. The constantly live rail holds 750 volts, and it goes without saying that any trespass risks not only the life of those trespassing but also the lives of those who try to help anyone injured crossing the tracks.”
‘Abdicating responsibility’
A separate British Transport Police letter says Dreamland need to improve perimeter security.
It says: “Even modest improvements in this area would discourage young people from using the adjacent railway line to attempt to get into the venue.
“Dreamland is adamant that this is only a Network Rail and Southeastern trains issue (thus abdicating any responsibility) but if the venues perimeter fencing and wholesale perimeter security was more robust this would significantly disincentivize trespass along the tracks as scaling their fencing would be much more difficult.
“Network Rail are addressing this problem with a programme of works before next summer but this needs to be a joint approach with the venue to prevent further trackside vulnerabilities from being exploited/created.”
Options
Members of Thanet council’s licensing sub-committee will make a decision which can be a combination of any of the following:
- Make no changes to the current licence;
- Modify the conditions of the licence, taking into account the recommendations;
- Exclude certain licensable activities;
- Remove the Designated Premises Supervisor;
- Suspend the licence for up to a period of up to 3 months;
- Revoke the licence.
Kent Police is not requesting the Dreamland licence is revoked but is instead asking for a number of additional conditions including:
- Creation of a Safety Advisory Group
- Zero tolerance drug policy in place and no admittance to anyone found in possession of any illegally classified drug and robust signage throughout the venue regarding drug use and possession.
- All Security and Stewarding staff to receive full training and briefing of their duties
- Increased use of proactive sniffer dogs at events deemed higher risk of drug use
Thanet council’s licensing officer also suggests 18+ events only to be held, unless with prior written agreement from the Licensing Authority and/or the Police or no under 18 year old events where there is a high, medium/high or medium risk of class A or B drugs use or violence.
The officer suggests every member of SIA staff must wear body worn cameras at all music events, and be trained in how to use them. And for qualified paramedic(s) and trained emergency staff to be on site at every music event.
Police previously confirmed reports of drug dealing in the area were received on the day of Emily’s death and seven people were arrested on suspected dealing offences. Two of those were released without charge and five were bailed pending further enquiries.
The meeting takes place at Thanet council’s offices from 1pm today.
