A NEW telephone system has been launched in Bournemouth town centre that aims to stop troublemakers from getting into bars, clubs and pubs.

Doorlink enables doorstaff to take pictures of any problem drinkers via their mobile phones and within seconds circulate them to other venues in a bid to stamp out violent behaviour.

The pilot scheme - the first of its kind - is also linked up to the police and CCTV centre and all those with Doorlink mobile phones can view the pictures.

Licensees have welcomed the system and say doorstaff are regularly sending pictures of troublemakers across the network.

Steve Hudson, manager of Elements nightclub and chairman of Townwatch, said: "All the indications are that it is a big success.

"If there are troublemakers or people we believe are not up to any good we can take a picture of them and within 30 seconds it will automatically arrive on to all the phones."

A total of 17 venues are trying out Doorlink and, when it goes live, around 38 venues will be involved.

Mr Hudson said: "We want to make Bournemouth a safer place. We also want to send out the message that if you cause trouble in one venue we are going to do our best to stop you getting into any others."

Staff can also view pictures of those individuals made the subject of the Banned From One, Banned From Them All initiative on the phones, as previously they had to remember their faces from posters.

Andy Caudle from ASP, which runs Doorlink, said: "It's designed to stop trouble at the front door rather than allow it into the venues."

He said that the first time the system went live four people listed on the Banned From One order were turned away from venues.

Mr Caudle said: "These are people who would normally have been allowed into venues because it is so hard for doorstaff to remember the faces of all those people included in the order from a folder in the office. Now they can flick through their phone on the door to view the pictures."

He added that Doorlink can also be used by the council and police to send security alerts to venues.

PC Dave Mann, of the alcohol and licensing team at Bournemouth police, said: "It is in its trial period and really it is too early to say how it is going.

"The main aim is to ensure troublesome customers don't cause any trouble elsewhere."