Police are to get tougher on clubs and pubs who serve rowdy customers, according to Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith who said his officers would become more vocal at licence hearings.

Mr. Smith said certifying bouncers might be the answer to stop drunks causing trouble - a method used in other countries.

Mr. Smith said: "Management of our night clubs need to take a far firmer stand on who they permit on their premises and what they allow to happen on their premises.

"It is no secret that a significant number of our assaults, sexual assaults, serious assaults and even murders occur at, in or near premises with liquor licences or were, in some way, connected with the activities within those premises.

"Under the Liquor Licensing Act there are certain obligations the licence holder has in conducting the establishment such as not having an establishment where drugs are used or alcohol gets served to patrons who will put themselves or others at risk."

He said if clubs don't play ball Police will call for tougher laws.

He said: "If I get a sense management is not responding to the law then the Police Service will make objections through the Liquor Licensing Authority. We have done so in the past and I now see more of a role for that.

"We recognise the problems that are coming out of licensed premises and I intend to be more proactive and use the laws to try and make sure there is compliance.

"There are places where men, women and children go, they need to be made safe. If it means making objections during the renewing of licensing then we will."

And Mr. Smith told The Royal Gazette: "I will be looking at and reporting on whether the legislation is adequate."

The Commissioner said he might be making specific recommendations about how clubs could regulate themselves better.

"One of the approaches in other jurisdictions is to put a requirement on night club licenses to have qualified security personnel on duty charged with specific responsibilities - making sure that drug abuse is not taking place, making sure that requirements under fire regulations are met in terms of maximum capacity," said Mr. Smith.

"Some night clubs have that presence and some don't and the Liquor Licensing Authority has previously put stipulations on premises to have a certain amount of bouncers.

"That's not the answer on its own. You have to look at who's doing the bouncing and who is that individual. Are they qualified or trained?"

He said in other countries bouncers had to have clean records on serious crime.

"We have had complaints of bouncers assaulting patrons. Clearly that's an intolerable situation."