Gang members need to be banned from all the Island’s bars and clubs before they scare away customers.Bar bosses on Front Street are calling for tough new laws to be introduced to stop known troublemakers ruining Bermuda’s nightlife.It comes after Bootsie’s Comedy Club closed its doors because it had become a popular drinking spot for members of the Parkside gang. Owner Bootsie said he feared it was only a matter of time before someone got hurt.Bosses have now revealed gang members creating atmospheres of fear for staff and customers is “a growing problem.”They are now demanding “drastic action” to stop potentially violent situations as they say gang members can be abusive and confrontational.Phil Barnett, president of the Island Restaurant Group, which includes the Pickled Onion and Hog Penny, said: “We have to say enough is enough.“New gang laws should be brought in to assume guilt by association.“Anyone in a gang or affiliated with a gang should be banned from all premises with a liquor licence.“It’s got to the stage where this has to happen.”This tough stance on gangs seems to be in line with National Security Minister Wayne Perinchief’s plans to outlaw gang membership in Bermuda. He told ZBM’s Let’s Talk programme earlier this week that it would be his priority to introduce anti-gang legislation as “it would best suit national interests.”Mr Barnett, who is on the board of directors of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, said: “There are people who are fearful of their safety when they are having a night out. They know that it may not take much to inflame a situation.“Security guys are also very, very concerned about facing these people. They have a very bad reputation.“Unfortunately there’s a very, very small percentage of people creating a very large problem for all of us.“Having a safe and secure environment for patrons is always our priority.”Similar ‘gang injunction’ laws banning known troublemakers from public places such as bars and parks have successfully worked in the UK and Australia.Bermuda Police Service would need to be onboard to draw up the list of known gang members. Police officers would also have to make sure no one was flouting the law by regularly monitoring those inside of bars.Madison Mello, a manager at Flanagan’s on Front Street, said: “I’m all for banning gang members from bars, it just makes sense.“It would be a huge help for bar owners if we knew the names of these people and what they looked like.“It wouldn’t take long to draw up a list or a database, we could work with the police.”Ms Mello said gang-related violence wasn’t a problem for Flanagan’s, but she added “it’s easy to see the threat is there.”She said: “You know these people are about. If they know the bouncers, they get into places, it’s as easy as that.“It’s probably worse on a Friday night when it’s really busy.”A manager at Docksiders on Front Street, who would not be named, said he looked at photos of gang members in newspapers so he knew “exactly who to look out for.”He said: “We have had some issues with gang members, there have been problems.“I would recognise one of two of the most high profile gang members, but we do have trouble identifying all of those affiliated with gangs.“We know that when we have a special event on that’s when most people want to go out and have a good time.”The manager went on to say that it was “a real shame” that Bootsie’s Comedy Club became a victim of Bermuda’s gang culture.He added: “Security is immediately made aware of any gang members who come in.“We basically give everyone a chance, but if they mess up, that’s it, we can’t risk it.“We are seeing the police a lot more and that is helping.”Comments on our website described Bootsie’s closing as a “very sad day” as it was a “special” place where people could go “to relax and enjoy.” However, people commended Bootsie for his actions calling him “a wise man” for putting the safety of his staff and customers first.