Scanners ban 100 from night venues

Erin Pearson
MORE than 100 troublemakers have lost their access to Geelong nightclubs since the venues adopted ID scanners, according to managers.
They said the technology had helped cut down on alcohol-fuelled violence that previously plagued the central city area after dark.
Geelong venues began introducing the scanners in 2007 to store images of patrons’ faces and licences.
Information on identified troublemakers is stored on a database available to venues using the technology in Geelong as well as 60 others around Australia.
Bended Elbow’s Kristin Lemura said the scanners had led to a “significant” decrease in assaults.
“It was A bit of an unknown when we first set up the technology back in 2007 but so far we’ve been very happy.”
Ms Lemura said a minority of patrons was “uneasy” about the technology storing their information but most had accepted the process.
Other nightlife operators also praised the scanners, which cost about $7000 each.
Home House and Eureka manager Mario Gregorio credited them with a change in “behaviour” in central Geelong’s nightclub precinct.
“The scanners have made people safer inside the venues,” he said.
“Security knows who the known troublemakers are but once your ID details are scanned and an indiscretion is caused inside the venue then a ban will occur, which has a major impact on people’s social lives.”