Security staff at a nightclub acted correctly in dealing with a university student who fell backwards down stairs during Freshers’ Week, a licensing committee has said.

Lawyer David Dadds applied for a licensing review of the Timepiece nightclub in Exeter, Devon, and said door staff “failed to show basic care”.

Exeter City Council’s licensing committee said it was “appropriate” to pick the woman up from the staircase and staff had been “considerate” in dealing with her. However, the committee set some conditions including the introduction of a “welfare station”, an incident log and an anti-spiking policy.

Sam King, director of Timepiece, said he felt “exonerated” by the committee’s decision.

In its decision the licensing committee said it “considered that the conduct of the security officers was sufficient to promote the licensing objective of public safety”.

The committee set out a number of conditions to be met by the club – described as an “institution” in the day-long hearing.

They included a written drugs policy and spiking policy to be agreed with Devon and Cornwall Police, an incident log and regular training for staff in relation to vulnerable customers.

Alongside the welfare station the club will have to employ a customer welfare officer “whose role will be to ensure customer care is given to vulnerable persons”.

The committee heard the overproof rum Tiki Fire, which had been drunk by the University of Exeter student on the night in question, had since been removed from sale.

Mr King was pleased with the committee’s decision, particularly its finding that “the written witness evidence submitted by the applicant did not accurately reflect what had occurred” on the night of the student’s fall.

He said the licensing review was initiated “without any prior contact with Timepiece” and had been “a very challenging time” for the entire team.

“It has always been the case that the welfare of our customers, particularly female customers, has been paramount to us,” he added.

Mr Dadds, who was representing the student for the public good and without payment, said he was satisfied with the outcome.

He said: “It’s important that the licensing authority and responsible authorities have taken a look and put in additional steps to make sure young people are getting home safe and sound.”