Grant Lees, manager at C21, Shrewsbury, wears a camera and video set designed for door staff.

Doormen at a Shropshire nightclub will be kitted out with CCTV body cameras as part of a new project aimed at keeping clubbers safe.

C:21 in Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, has agreed to take part in the scheme which could help provide crucial evidence in the event of any disturbance or incident that occurs at the club.

The club and Spirit champagne bar will become the first county venue to use the Robocam system on Friday.

It will enable the door security team to record in sound and pictures any situation they encounter.

The footage displays on a screen which can be downloaded or transferred to a disc afterwards.

Grant Lees, venue manager of C:21 and Spirit, said: “We want to continue to ensure that our nightclubs lead the way in new technology that helps to enforce our strict door policy.

“Our customers’ safety and that of our front-of-house team is of paramount importance.

“It is vital that we maintain our high standards to ensure our customers have a great trouble-free clubbing experience.

“The Robocam will certainly help us achieve this, and will complement our existing 30 CCTV cameras throughout the venues.

“A big advantage of this particular system is that it not only records footage but also records the audio, so that verbal abuse can be documented and dealt with appropriately.”

The move has been praised by town centre officer Sergeant Claire Greenaway.

She said: “We’re delighted that both C:21 and Spirit nightclub have decided to launch this new system, which will also coincide with our own launch of the same system in Shrewsbury by our police officers this weekend.”

The initiative is also supported by Shrewsbury Pubwatch manager Richard Goodchild.

He said: “We presented the idea at the last Pubwatch meeting, and I am delighted that both C:21 and Spirit nightclub have been so proactive in installing the system so promptly.

“It really is an excellent device in helping to reduce crime and disorder, and it’s a system that West Mercia Police not only endorse but also make use.”

By Russell Roberts