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New emergency powers were used by councillors to suspend Passion premises licence but, after a hard-line security drive was rolled out, the ban has been temporarily lifted to give the measures a chance to take effect.
However, at a hearing last month, it was agreed the club can stay open, after councillors heard how door supervisors are now supplied by North East firm Phoenix Security, CCTV has been installed on fire doors to stop revellers sneaking into the club and a Challenge-21 policy introduced to stamp out underage boozers.
Phoenix Security boss Steve Howe showed the hearing footage from an infra-red head-cam worn by member of door staff to watch over clubbers as they are searched for drugs and have their IDs checked.
Chief Inspector Sean McKenna, from Sunderland Area Command, told an initial hearing that Passion customers accounted for 11 per cent of the city centre's most serious violent crimes.
But club bosses have hit back, saying of 57 crimes reported over the last year, 15 were thefts and four drug possessions, which should not have been classed by police as serious crimes.
Assaults have also gone down over the year, with no attacks at all in May and June, they added.
Mr Howe said he did not think knife scanners were needed, as there were no incidents involving weapons.
"We turned away 235 people last Saturday night either underage or drunk.
"There is metal detectors there if needs be, but I don't think it is needed."
Sunderland Echo |
