Crackdown on guns in nightclubs

A crackdown on people carrying guns in London's nightclubs is being carried out over the Christmas period.

During this period last year there were three shootings in clubs and police said they want to ensure party-goers do not get exposed to injury this year.

Each day 65 officers will be involved in Operation Argon which begins on Friday night and runs until 1 January.

Club staff are being advised to improve security and search people at the door to detect any weapons.

Clubs 'vulnerable'

The intelligence-led operation will involve officers from Operation Trident, the clubs and vicesection, the Territorial Support Group, specialist firearms officers, traffic police, the dog section and local borough police.

Over the Christmas period in 2004-5 there were 7 shootings, one of which was a murder and three happened in nightclubs.

In 2005-6 there were 5 incidents of shooting of which one was a murder and four occurred in nightclubs, police statistics revealed.

In all cases innocent people were caught in the crossfire, police said.

Det Ch Supt Helen Ball, Head of Operation Trident, which deals with gun crime in the black community, said: "If the public are not being searched at the door, then the club could be leaving themselves vulnerable and allowing weapons into their premises.

"In past years, we have seen innocent people literally caught in the crossfire in nightclubs and this is not acceptable."

The operation will not run on Christmas Day and 27 December.