Players Bar assistant manager Matt Bonasia with the club’s security cameras installed to keep patrons safe.
PLAYERS Bar have hit back at claims their venue is unsafe, following the drink spiking of a young Lakelands mother last month.
Twenty-one year-old Emma Birtwistle was with her partner and a friend at Players Bar on August 25 when her drink was spiked and she was rushed to hospital.
Players Bar assistant manager Matt Bonasia said while the club was concerned such an incident would occur at their venue, it was an isolated occurrence.
“This is not a regular occurrence and if at all, it is the first time in six months [such a serious incident has occurred],” he said.
“We take it very seriously and are working with police on the matter to try and assist as much as we can.
“We want people to come out to a safe, fun venue and not have to worry.”
Mr Bonasia said the Smart Street Mall nightspot had made an effort to increase security recently and said the increases had seen a positive effect.
“We have tried to beef up our security and have a stronger presence in the venue,” he said.
“New ID scanners have deterred anti-social behaviour and it is easier to ban and keep out those who display anti-social behaviour.”
Mr Bonasia described the drink spiking incident as “disgusting” and “creepy” and said Players Bar would make an effort to ensure it is an isolated incident.
“It is concerning for anyone to have people like that in their venue or even just the thought of people going out to do that sort of thing,” he said.
“We definitely don’t encourage those people to come to the venue.”
Mr Bonasia said Players Bar had a good relationship with local police and said the working relationship had stamped out a lot of the behaviour previously associated with Mandurah nightspots.
“We do want to stamp out the anti-social behaviour,” he said.
“The new security has stamped out juveniles coming into the venue and anyone causing fights.”
Players Bar security staff are required to fill out incident reports at the end of each shift and security and management staff have access to radio contact to ensure patrons safety.
Mandurah detectives, who are handling the investigation into the drink spiking, said they are expecting to view footage from Players Bar by the end of the week.