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Revellers should avoid nightspots that have bouncers on the door if they want to stay safe on nights out, according to a city councillor.
Cllr Nick Eden-Green, deputy leader of the Lib Dems on Canterbury City Council, says the only way to keep out of danger is to avoid going to places that might attract trouble - specifically places with door staff.
His comments come in response to a plan by security firm Akon Security to issue stab-proof vests to its doormen after three fights reportedly involving knives in the space of six days.
Cllr Eden-Green said: “I’m absolutely horrified by this.
“I appreciate that a security firm quite rightly is going to look after its staff and so they should, but it’s absolutely dreadful that we’ve apparently now got knife crime or people carrying knives to a level where they’ve got to take that sort of action.
“In my view, where there are door staff outside, whether it’s a club or a pub or anywhere else, to me that is a sign of danger. Why are the staff there? Because there’s a problem.
“Don’t put yourself in danger, don’t go to places which are obviously having to deal with problems.”
His comments have sparked a backlash from Conservative councillor Louise Jones-Roberts, who owns Club Chemistry and Tokyo Tearooms. She says it is “preposterous”.
She said: “It’s like saying you wouldn’t go to a city where there is a police station because it means it’s a dangerous place.
“Responsible licensed premises have security to protect their customers and to protect their staff.
“They act as a barrier outside so people can relax inside.
"I don’t always feel safe sadly and certainly if I go out with my wife, she feels distinctly unsafe on many occasions" - Cllr Eden-Green
“There are always going to be unpleasant people about. It’s not just specific to nightclubs.”
She says there is a strict admissions policy at her venues and everyone must show ID so they know who is in the clubs.
Cllr Eden-Green made the controversial comments when speaking about crime in the city and admitted he sometimes feels unsafe walking around at night.
He said: “I often come back relatively late after meetings.
“I don’t always feel safe sadly and certainly if I go out with my wife, she feels distinctly unsafe on many occasions.”
He says while crime in Canterbury is no worse than other cities, there is still a problem.
“We had this terrible incident of a German student being beaten up.
“It wasn’t a knife crime, thank heavens, otherwise he probably wouldn’t still be with us but it was a horrific crime.
“I think there’s always more that can be done and more that should be done.”
He claims CCTV is “overrated”.
“We’ve got lots of cameras but perhaps not enough operators to look at the screens, so all the CCTV does on many occasions is just to pick up something after it’s happened.
“We want to do something before it’s happened and that may well mean more bobbies on the beat, but sadly the police are just not around at night.”
"It’s like saying you wouldn’t go to a city where there is a police station because it means it’s a dangerous place...” Cllr Louise Jones-Roberts
Council spokesman Rob Davies says CCTV control room operators helped with 443 incidents between April and June and supported the arrest of 46 people. There are always at least two operators on duty every day of the year - and they work closely with police, Whitefriars’ security team and support the District Watch radio scheme that allows members to contact each other to alert them to crime, incidents and problems.
He added: “We are also bringing in extra staff for the implementation of the city centre security bollards scheme.
“We keep a close eye on the demands of our CCTV team as we fully recognise, and are proud of, the vital role they play. In light of Cllr Eden-Green’s comments, we’ll definitely be inviting him into the CCTV room for a catch up.”
