POOLE'S only major nightclub has been given three months to sort out long-standing managerial and CCTV problems or risk losing its licence.

Chillis, in Kingland Road, is "on probation" following a succession of serious complaints from Dorset Police and Poole council, mainly concerning the club's CCTV.

Licensing officer Sgt Dave Ramsay said a serious assault had occurred at the club on January 11. The victim was left with a fractured cheekbone and split lip.

But despite the police making several visits to the club and leaving messages for licensee George Latore, they were unable to seize CCTV footage, forcing the Crown Prosecution Service to drop court proceedings.

On April 6, another assault occurred in the club. This time, police were given a CCTV tape by Mr Latore but found it blank.

Sgt Ramsay said twice he had instructed an inspection of Chillis' CCTV system and both times, they had found serious deficiencies.

"This club is a problem area for us and sometimes we also receive complaints about the security staff being heavy handed," he said.

"If the CCTV system is not exactly as it should be, it can pose real problems for us."

Mr Latore said he lived above the club and could not understand why police were unable to contact him and retrieve the CCTV footage for the January assault.

But he said the second assault was covered by the club's supplementary CCTV system, which was installed purely for their benefit and was not a requirement of their licence.

"We've always tried to help the police and have done everything asked of us," he said. "But this is a wake-up call and we've woken up now."

Cllr Graham Mason, of Poole's licensing committee, said it was imperative the club sorts out its CCTV system and improves communication with the police and council.

"For many years you've flaunted the law and members of the public, probably my daughter or my son, have been in your club and they've not been safe," he said.

"It's terrible to think that if it was a problem with the sound mechanism you would have spent thousands of pounds on it, but when it comes to safety you've been blas."