The owner of a club closed after a mass brawl has called for more restrictions on licensed premises which open late to limit disruption.

Club 195 was forced to close its doors in 2009 after a disturbance involving 100 people outside the premises in Cottis Lane in Epping.

Speaking at a public meeting on crime in Mercury Hall, Loughton, yesterday, owner David King said more could be done to apply pressure to licensees to ensure they act responsibly.

Addressing police officers, councillors and residents, he said: “Things will improve if you put them under pressure.

“You can attach conditions to the licence about things like the latest entry time.”

Residents raised concerns across the district about disruption caused by late-night revellers and police have vowed to tackle the problem by increasing patrols.

Mr King told the audience how he had invested in a security system which scans customer ID and introduced other measure aimed at limiting the impact on residents.

He said: “We don’t get the trouble because people know that they have had their ID scanned and I can go back on the system and bring up a picture of them as they come into the club.

“We got the Club Scan system not because we were asked to, but because it is part of being a responsible club owner.

“It certainly worked for us. We are packed at the weekends but people coming to the club feel safe.”

Mr King also chairs Epping Forest pubwatch programme, which sees pub and bar owners share information on troublemakers.