Minister that they could be sent letters banning them from nightclubs.

Shadow Home Affairs Minister Alex Scott is urging club owners to consider writing to offenders if a "ban list'' of troublemakers is drawn up.

The Royal Gazette revealed yesterday that club bosses wanted to forge a new partnership with Police to stamp out late night violence.

And the crackdown on clubland crime will now be spearheaded by a special working committee set up by nightspot owners.

A group of club owners on the Chamber of Commerce yesterday decided to set up the committee to plan their attack on hooligans.

And Mr. Scott said: "This initiative is to be encouraged and supported and it would definitely be helpful if clubs had consulted with the Police department when they came to dealing with problems in their own premises.

"Self policing is always more desirable and regular meetings could help that.

"If they are intending to draft a list of problematic customers, it might be a good idea to consider writing letters to those on the list.

"That would give people legal warning that their behaviour would not be tolerated in clubs and then they could have no complaints if they were physically removed from the premises. The Police would also know that individuals had been officially warned.'' Chamber of Commerce President David Rowntree said: "Something desperately needs to be done to quell this type of violence because it will ultimately affect Bermuda's reputation as a quiet, peaceful resort.

"We are concerned for everyone, not just our visitors. But we can't tolerate this behaviour in public -- particularly at places where our tourists like to go.'' He said the plans for regular meetings with Police were backed by nightclub owners at a Chamber meeting on Monday afternoon.

Mr. Rowntree added: "This is something which is being organised by the members and I feel it is a very good idea.

"If the Police and nightclubs can work together to get a handle on this problem, the better off everyone will be.

"If necessary, the Chamber of Commerce can help organise those meetings because we endorse the concept and we are now pursuing it.

"The Restaurant and Nightclub Division is already planning to set up a working committee to address this issue and I understand they are already begining to make contact with Police.'' He said the new working committee would discuss proposals for the register of troublemakers.

Club owners called for action after four people were stabbed in a gang fight outside the Clayhouse Inn early on Sunday.

There were other brawls at the Odyssey nightclub which spilled down Front Street to Oasis.

And Oasis co-owner Viv Redford called for the list of violent offenders to be drawn up so clubs knew exactly who to look out for.

A Police spokesman said a Task Force team was re-established several months ago to combat the rising tide of violence in clubs.

He added that senior officers, including Acting Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay, had not yet been contacted by nightclub owners.

But Acting Assistant Comissioner Alan Bissell said he would welcome any meeting with nightclub owners.

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