CCTV footage shows the moment a woman was thrown to the ground by a bouncer following her reaction to being kicked out of 54 nightclub.
The incident took place at the nightclub on Seel Street shortly after 2am on Saturday, February 18. Some footage of the incident had already been circulating online, showing a woman with dark hair arguing with a bouncer.
That video shows the woman suddenly strike the bouncer in the face, who reacts by grabbing her. The woman then falls heavily to the ground where she appears to have suffered an injury.
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A second video, also circulating online, shows two of the woman's friends shouting and prodding the doorman and his colleague, who then push them both to the ground. However additional footage, released by the club, shows one of the woman who was pushed to the ground screaming at a male member of club management while lashing out repeatedly with what appears to be a mobile phone.
One of the club dancers approaches to try and calm her down, but is caught in the face by the phone, which the club said left her with a black eye.
Merseyside Police confirmed they are investigating the incident and had been invited to examine the CCTV of the footage by club staff, which 54 also released to the ECHO. According to a statement from 54 nightclub, police officers told them they "felt the actions of the door-staff were justified".
The club did, however, accept that the doorman was "overly aggressive" in his response to the incident. The Security Industry Authority (SIA), which regulates licences to work in the security industry, confirmed it is also investigating the incident.
54 also claims the mum of one of the women involved in the altercations reached out to "apologise for her daughter's part in this".
A spokesman for 54 told the ECHO: "Just after 2am a member of a group was removed from the premises due to her actions in the female toilet towards other customers and also to the attendant. She was also intoxicated.
"The rest of the party she was with were then also asked to leave due to several complaints from other customers in the venue about their behaviour. As the group left, the member of the group who was removed first and was already outside attacked a member of the security team. He has subsequently pushed her.
"The group then turned on staff and customers outside threatening them as some customers began to film their actions. Both parties have acted overly aggressive which led to an unfortunate incident."
The spokesman said 54 asked the police to assess the footage, and claimed the clips circulating online were "highly edited" and "missed out" unprovoked assaults on security, management and the dancer.
The club said it has not "gone down the avenue" of making official reports about those alleged assaults "at this time".
The 54 spokesman said: "A lot of customers have contacted us since the weekend with footage of the build up to events outside of 54 Liverpool. Management have also received a number of complaints about the group involved in relation to their behaviour during the night in question. We must add that no member of staff in hospitality, or indeed any profession, is paid enough to be spat at, hit with objects and threatened with follow up attacks.
"One of the 54 Liverpool management and also one of our dancers are recovering well after being attacked."
The spokesman said: "We would like to thank the Mother of one of the girls involved for reaching out to us to apologise for her daughter's part in this. We have in turn apologised on behalf of the security company who work on our premises, to her, for their member of staff's actions.
"The doorman in the video has been suspended by the security company he works for while the police investigated this incident. He has now also been sent on a conflict resolution course in line with SIA guidelines, this week. 54 Liverpool now hope to draw a line under this incident as do those involved.
"All parties need to do better in the future as this incident could have been avoided."
A statement from the SIA said: "We are aware of reports of an incident that took place at the 54 Nightclub in Liverpool over the weekend. We take allegations of violence by security officers against the public they are there to protect very seriously. We are seeking access to footage circulating online, and at this stage are not able to say more while the incident is being looked into."
Merseyside Police confirmed the incident had been reported and said it had nothing to add to the statement from 54 nightclub. A spokesman said anyone with information is asked to contact @MerPolCC quoting reference 23000142317 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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