Manchester nightclub confiscates hairpins from punters as security beefed up after stabbing

A Manchester nightclub has been confiscating hairpins from customers since security was beefed up following a stabbing earlier this month. The incident at Vision on Whitworth Street West on April 2 left a man with a wound to his face.

According to the police, the victim was slashed across the face with what he described as a knife following a dispute over a booth that had been booked. He was treated by staff and taken to hospital where he had 30 stitches in his face. A suspect has been identified and GMP is taking steps to trace and arrest him. The club was ordered to search customers with knife wands before they enter or re-enter the venue at a licensing hearing days after the incident on April 5.

Since then, the venue has not found any knives or weapons on customers, but metal hairpins have been confiscated, councillors were told today (April 28). PC Alan Isherwood, who has visited the venue, said police are satisfied with the new measures and asked the licensing panel to make them permanent.

Representing the venue, Richard Williams of Keystone Law, told the summary review hearing that this was the first incident of its kind since the club opened 12 years ago. He assured councillors at the town hall hearing that managers at the club will do ‘everything they possibly can to stamp out this sort of incident’.

Door staff now search people in the queue with knife wands before they enter. The solicitor said: “They’ve not recovered any knife or weapon so far, but there have been people who have been stopped who have hairpins – metal hairpins  that are used by some people – and they are taken off the customers.”

Speaking after the hearing, representatives from the club told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that two hairpins have been taken off customers in the last month. This is because this type of hairpin, which is typically used for Afro-Caribbean hair, has a sharp spike at the end, they said.

Councillors questioned whether the club should install a security arch at the entrance, but general manager Charles Herbert said this would slow things down. Licensing panel chair Paul Andrews announced the outcome of the review is to introduce the new conditions on the club’s licence permanently.

He added: “We do recognise the place is run well.”