The owner of Escape night-club will be cracking down and "cleaning up his clientele" to try to prevent future incidents at the club.

Yesterday Paul DeCouto said the club has had far too many problems recently and was making "dramatic changes" in order to prevent a repeat of situations such as the mini-riot two weeks ago.

Mr. DeCouto submitted drawings to Planning yesterday that will attempt to solve a bottleneck problem at the club's entrance at peak times. He said the clients of the M.R. Onion's bar - located in the same building on Par-La -Ville Road - had been affected by the problems with the entrance of the club and had been complaining of interruptions. Nightclub staff also had problems dealing with people rushing the door.

Mr. DeCouto said he hopes a corridor, a chain and a small window where people will pay, will separate M.R.Onion's and the club, and keep customers in control.

There are also plans to build a coat check area. Currently helmets and bags are left on the floor next to the cashier. The new coat check arrangement will help prevent theft of items being checked.

In addition, everyone must be searched with a metal detector and also be "patted down". Any offensive weapons found will be handed over to the Police, instead of returned or thrown out, as was the previous practice. Mr. DeCouto claimed that mace and large knives have been confiscated before.

A dress code will also be implemented. The final plans of what the code will entail have not yet been decided, as Mr. DeCouto said he wanted feedback from the public first. However definitely banned will be baggy clothing, as weapons can be easily concealed in them.

He said: "Hopefully the dress code will stop people from just coming off the streets and off the wall and into my club."

Mr. DeCouto said Escape will deal more seriously with drug users and that even softer drugs like marijuana will be banned. He said that offenders would be warned before being banned from the club.

Three weeks ago, Escape Nightclub stopped serving any drinks in glass containers. Shot glasses were replaced with plastic, and beers were poured into plastic cups. This policy will continue.

Mr. DeCouto claims that IDs will now be necessary for entrance, even if the bouncers know the person is over 18. He said: "People should be carrying ID at all times anyway in case of an accident."

He said that its "Urban Explosion" parties would not begin again until after the renovations are complete, but said that foam parties will continue.

Mr. DeCouto added the Police will be playing an integral part in the club's new security. He said task forces will be working together with his security in an attempt to "quash the problem".

There are 22 staff on the security team and on busy nights, up to 16 staff can be on duty.

Mr. DeCouto said he finally decided to tighten regulations because he does not want anyone to get hurt.

"This club is very different from all the others because it's not just a cookie-cutter club," he said.

"It's been created through my blood, sweat, and tears so these recent incidents have been like someone invading my house. That's why it all has to stop - I knew something had to be done."