DOORMEN at a Derby bar whose licence has been revoked because of crime are to wear head-mounted cameras to deter troublemakers.

The owners of Bespoke have introduced the measure after appealing against the decision by Derby City Council's licensing sub-committee to take their licence away.

The bar, which will remain open until the appeal is heard, plans to use the head-mounted cameras to record crimes in the street outside the bar.

Other security measures are also planned to help ensure the safety of customers.

A video of the headcams in action

These include the introduction of plastic glasses and cups to prevent glassing incidents.

Customers are also being subjected to searches with metal detectors and doormen will frequently patrol the areas directly outside the bar.

Bobby Nanua, who owns Bespoke with business partner Mandip Mander, said the head-mounted cameras would record crimes and deter troublemakers.

Each camera kit costs about £1,000 and consists of an earpiece, a small television screen and a digital recording card. It captures live video of incidents as seen by the wearer, which can be played back at a later time or date. Videos of offences can then be handed to police to be used as evidence.

Police in Derby already use head-mounted cameras when on patrol, following the permanent introduction of the equipment in August.

One doorman will be trialling the equipment at Bespoke for the next two months, starting tomorrow night.

Mr Nanua said: "The cameras record constantly and, if people know they are there, this may deter them from causing an incident. This is because they know the cameras will be used as evidence later on and may incriminate them.

"I believe we are one of the first bars in Derby to implement something like this. It's an expensive piece of kit but it is worth it and it is one step further towards reducing crime connected with the bar."

Bespoke, in Curzon Street, employs 35 people and receives about 3,500 customers a week.

It had its premises licence revoked after police said it had the worst level of alcohol-related crime in the city centre.

In a report to the council, police said there had been 69 such crimes since June 2006 – 34 assaults, 25 thefts, three woundings, six public order offences and one vandal attack.

Mr Nunua said: "Now we have met with the council, we know exactly what issues they have with the bar and we are very keen to resolve them. We have taken everything they have said on board and we hope the police see that we are working to improve the situation."

Councillor Bob Troup, cabinet member for housing and public protection, said Bespoke was taking an important step in improving the reputation of the city's nightlife.

He said: "If Bespoke is trying to establish new security measures and do all it can to enforce what police have advised them to do, that must be a good thing. But things like the head cameras will only be good depending on their use."