A NIGHTCLUB boss today hit back at negative publicity surrounding his venue, reinforcing its zero-tolerance policy on drugs and violence.Kartouche director Kerpal Bains said he is fed up with the constant criticism levelled at his staff and the club, and intends to continue taking a strong stance against crime in and around the building throughout the summer months.

A NIGHTCLUB boss today hit back at negative publicity surrounding his venue, reinforcing its zero-tolerance policy on drugs and violence.

Kartouche director Kerpal Bains said he is fed up with the constant criticism levelled at his staff and the club, and intends to continue taking a strong stance against crime in and around the building throughout the summer months.

He said: "My door staff are in a vulnerable position and do a difficult job, but they are continually coming in for criticism.

"It is a position that comes with a lot of responsibility and I will not employ someone if I don't think they are capable, but the amount of abuse they receive is incredible."

General manager Georgie Smith agreed: "You would not believe what they have to put up with sometimes. I've been kicked, punched and even spat at when I have stood on the door. The fact that I'm a woman doesn't make any difference."

Over the course of the last few years several court cases involving drugs and violence in and around the club have tainted its reputation. Mr Bains said: "At one point I lost 35 per cent of my trade but we have worked hard to restore people's faith in the club and they are back in droves.

"We have always had a strong zero tolerance policy on drugs. We do not need it, we do not want it and we will not tolerate it.

"If we find anything we hand it straight to the police and we will press for prosecution."

With a host of big names scheduled to appear over the summer, drawing capacity crowds of 1,500 to the Princes Street venue, Mr Bains is keen to stress the club's hard line on this kind of behaviour.

Twelve doormen will be in place on busy nights and everybody entering the club will be subject to a strict identity check and search. For the last 18 months doormen have used state-of-the-art handheld metal detectors to scan everyone entering the club.

Kartouche is also part of the town's Clubwatch scheme which sees various venues across town linked through a network of radios and cameras.