Vic police ban 2,000 from clubs and bars

Victorian police have banned nearly 2,000 people from bars and nightclubs in an effort to curb alcohol-related violence.

Statistics from the Victorian government show 1,951 people have been banned from licensed premises and entertainment areas in the past two years.

Of that figure, men are overwhelmingly the culprits, making up nearly 95 per cent of all troublemakers, with 1,848 banning notices, compared to 104 women.

Police can ban residents from a bar or nightclub for offences such as obscene behaviour, drunken behaviour and assault.

The bans remain in place for 24 hours.

Melbourne's CBD Safe Streets taskforce has also arrested over 4,000 people on Friday and Saturday nights during the same period.

Police Minister Bob Cameron says police are allowed to ban people from entering or staying inside venues and designated areas.

"Police can also seek an order from a court for someone to be banned for up to 12 months from an entertainment precinct," he said in a statement.

Such areas included: Melbourne's CBD, South Yarra, Frankston and Port Phillip, among other suburbs.

Mr Cameron said the banning notices were meant to prevent incidents before they started and were part of the state's recent efforts to combat late-night crime.

Victoria has introduced new laws this year that allow police to conduct random weapons searches in designated areas and give on-the-spot fines of $234 for a new offence of "disorderly conduct".