B.C.'s information and privacy commissioner has ruled computer databases of bar patrons' personal information violate provincial law. (CBC)

B.C.'s information and privacy commissioner has ordered a Vancouver nightclub to stop photographing patrons and scanning their personal identification into a database, after ruling the practice violates B.C.'s Personal Information Privacy Act.

David Loukidelis launched his investigation after a customer of the Wild Coyote Club in Vancouver complained about the practice, which is used by many clubs in Metro Vancouver, Victoria and other parts of B.C. as part of the Barwatch program to curb violence in bars.

The privacy commissioner said Tuesday he shares concerns about gang violence at nightclubs but putting every patron's information into a database is not justified when trying to track relatively few troublemakers.

Solutions sought

Loukidelis said he's willing to meet with bar operators to try to find a solution, but the information from driver's licences and other forms of identification must be wiped from the database run by a Vancouver company for the Wild Coyote Club.

Many bars and nightclubs in B.C. use scanners to capture personal information from patrons' driver's licences. (CBC)

The ruling will likely affect the operation all bars using the system, but Barwatch chairman John Teti said there's no doubt the system works and the ruling could jeopardize public safety.

"Since Barwatch has implemented the strategies that it has, there has been very, very little of violence of any sort ... and it's been almost two years now," said Teti on Tuesday.

But Micheal Vonn with the B.C. Civil Liberties Association said the scanning program is a clear infringement of rights.

"There is no rational justification for why retention of all of this data from everyone who comes into the club.… There really isn't," said Vonn.

With files from The Canadian Press