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Disabled girl barred from nightclub as crutches deemed 'offensive weapons'
Last updated at 18:07pm on 21.09.07A nightclub's decision to turn away a disabled girl on crutches has been branded 'absolutely ludicrous' by the Disability Rights Commission.
Jennifer Bartle, 20, said she felt "angry and humiliated" after she was refused entry on the grounds her crutches could be potential offensive weapons.
Miss Bartle, who suffers from a bone disease, informed the Commission after she was denied access to the Hush Enigma Club in Newton Abbot, Devon.
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Student Jennifer Bartle was banned from a nightclub after her crutches were branded as a lethal weapon
The Commission said today: "We think it is absolutely ludicrous what had happened. Any unfixed object can be used as a weapon.
"To single her out for this treatment is quite appalling, and we have advised of her rights and what to do next," said the spokesman.
"She needs a written justification from the nightclub as to why they have effectively banned her. It seems clear to us she was being treated very unfairly, the nightclub should know better," they added.
Miss Bartle also raised the issue with her MP, Liberal Democrat Richard Younger-Ross, who said today: "This is an unbelievable decision by the nightclub to deny a young disabled girl access.
"The club are almost certainly in breach of the disability rights legislation."
The Hush Enigma nightclub in Newton Abbot where Jennifer was refused entry
And he continued: "Disabled people face many hurdles and to deny a young person access to a nightclub, effectively because of their disability, creates yet another barrier between her and her friends. While they party, she is meant to sit it out."
Mr Younger-Ross has asked to meet with the nightclub and is taking the matter up with the Disability Rights Minister, Anne McGuire MP.
Miss Bartle said she had been allowed into the club on two previous occasions, and to deny her access was "ridiculous."
"Anything could be used as a weapon, including stilettos, glasses, and chairs, and other things like knives could be hidden in handbags," she said.
She said she was turned away at the door by four security staff when she went for a night out with two friends.
"It made me very angry and humiliated. It has really knocked my confidence."
Miss Bartle, who cannot walk unaided, said she was told she could go in if she handed in the crutches, to be returned when she left.
"I think the club should use a bit of common sense over this and be more flexible," said Miss Bartle, who is going to Bath University this term.
The manager of Hush Enigma, Sue Ewan, said the ban was imposed on legal advice after two violent incidents.
"We were assured we would not be infringing any discrimination legislation," she said.
She said she would discuss the policy and the reasons behind it if Miss Bartle came in to see her.
Reader views (5)
please give us a break,just using crutches don't mean that we are criminals,or we only think of using them to fight other people.
For your information we very much care for the crutches more then we care for other parts of our body in case they break while far from home.
- Kasifu Julius, magadi-kenya.
I use crutched and have numberous times experienced bouncers passing comments on my crutches e.g. "dont be hitting people with them" etc. Is there a need for them to do this? No. My worst experience was a few months back when I was out with a group of friends, 2 were let into the club, I was next in line. The bouncer pulled the chain across and refused access. They would give no reason (which I have been told they dont have to) other then make the comment "were not getting personal". When quizzed by my friends "is it to do with the disability / crutches all the could reply was "were not getting personal". This left myself and friends feeling upset and that the club were discriminating. Surely out of courtosy they would have denied that there reasons were link to the disability / crutches but, no. I reaserched what action could be taken and wrote to the manager of the club. My letter was never replied to.
- Matt, Hull
"...the ban was imposed on legal advice after two violent incidents." - so innocent, disabled, people are to be punished for the actions of a guilty minority?! (Whilst the guilty get away scot-free as usual)
Totally ridiculous.
They are focusing on the wrong thing: people cause harm, NOT 'weapons'; so if you've had violent incidents in the past, you ban the kind of people that caused them, not the 'weapons' they used.
If someone uses a chair as a weapon, or a bottle, or a belt, or a shoe, are you going to ban those things too?
Like Andrew says in his comment, the kind of person who wants to behave violently will use anything as a weapon - are you going to start banning arms and legs next?
"We were assured we would not be infringing any discrimination legislation," - who by? Mickey Mouse? It is blindingly obvious to anyone with any sense, and would certainly be to anyone in the legal profession, that this policy is a blatant breach of discrimination legislation.
- Amanda, Colchester, UK
If someone wanted to cause harm to the extent of attacking someone with a crutches, but didn't have any, they wouldn't say, "oh no I have no crutches so I will be good instead". They will use their arms or find other objects, a lot which could do a lot more damage. Weapons aren't the problem, just certain people's brains!
- Andrew, London
How can Miss Bartle see the manager Sue Ewan if she is not allowed into the club with crutches?
- Peat, Chelmsford, UK
