Published
Wed, Aug 31, 2016, 14:40
- The club's statement comes after Metropolitan Police labelled the venue "a safe haven for the supply and consumption of illegal drugs."
fabric has pledged to pursue a "gold standard" for safe clubbing if it's able to stay open.
The club's future hangs in the balance ahead of a September 6th Islington Council licensing meeting, which will see fabric's license reviewed following the recent deaths of two 18-year-old clubbers. The meeting will decide whether fabric is allowed to stay open—and, if so, under what conditions.
fabric's statement comes after council documents revealed that Met Police labelled the venue "a safe haven for the supply and consumption of illegal drugs." The police will present their findings to the licensing committee, which will also be presented with a 918-page document containing letters in support of fabric.
"The safety of our customers has always been our number one priority," says fabric director and cofounder Cameron Leslie. "Any suggestion that we are not 100% committed to tackling drugs on the premises is completely false."
Leslie adds: "We were pioneering in the way in which we worked hand-in-hand with the council and police when we opened 17 years ago. We established honest and transparent procedures never before seen, something we are incredibly proud of. Closing fabric will be the beginning of the end for clubbing in London, which is already under threat. In light of recent tragic events, we're independently reviewing all our processes and have already proposed substantial changes to the police and to Islington Council—our aim is to set a new industry gold standard for safe clubbing. Venues like fabric face huge challenges in tackling drugs but as an experienced operator, with a strong track record and which is willing to invest, we are best placed to pioneer new ways of working that will keep people safer. We hope the council and the police will support these efforts on the 6th and allow us to remain open."
An online petition to keep fabric open has close to 100,000 signatures. London mayor Sadiq Khan has called on the Met Police, Islington Council and fabric "to find an approach that protects clubbers' safety and the future of the club."