News Article: July 21, 2008

Section: News
Outlet: Victoria News
Byline: Rebecca Aldous
Title: Club calls for Victoria bars to plug in
Date: 2008-21-07

Victoria (CP) - Victoria bars should hook into the Internet to help prevent incidents such as the early Saturday morning shooting outside of Red Jacket nightclub, says Element nightclub manager Mike Maclean.

A shooting close to Red Jacket nightclub left 20-year-old Philbert Truong dead and two others in the hospital. The Red Jacket does use metal detectors, but technology such as TreoScope can further aid the prevention of bar brawls, Maclean said.

The computer system scans patrons' identification and information can be added by bars employees on any disruptions or fights they may have caused that night or weeks before. The system prevents troublemakers, kicked out from one bar, from entering the next.

So far, Element is the only nightclub in Victoria to use the system.

Maclean said the technology has alerted the club to potential bad apples from the Lower Mainland and Nanaimo, where bars are hooked into TreoScope.

Policing the crowds is becoming more difficult. Although the numbers of people coming out is down from previous years, there is a sense of uneasiness, Maclean said.

"I think there is a growing problem with gangs," he said.

The Red Jacket is no more notorious than other bars when it comes to violence, Victoria police spokesman Const. Derek Tolmie said. The problem lies with alcohol consumption in general.

Deputy Chief John Ducker said shooting incidents are rare in Victoria. The last time a gun was used in a confrontation was in 2003.

"Victoria remains a very safe community, one which is not generally affected by violent criminal activity," Ducker said.

The last major incident involving Red Jacket patrons occurred in June 2005 when a 24-year-old was stabbed by a 30-year-old beside the building. Both were ejected fro the club through separate entrances but met outside. The 24-year-old suffered serious wounds to his abdomen.

A year before the Red Jacket was one of five Victoria bars in which illegal drugs were bought by undercover police officer. The transaction was part of a sting operation with the intent to prevent organized crime from gaining a foothold in nightclubs.

But last year the club was praised by police for being the only club to not allow an underage undercover girl into the building.

raldous@vicnews.com