AN operation by Met police to fight crime in London's clubs and pubs during the party season almost halved the number of guns fired in the capital last month, police said today.

The Scotland Yard project, codenamed Operation Argon, also led to the recovery of five firearms and 50 arrests.

Police erected knife arches outside nightclubs and set up armed roadblocks to intercept gunmen. Operation Argon was launched in response to the recent spate of shootings around clubs.

During last month there were 17 shootings across London compared with 30 a year earlier.

Detective Chief Superintendent Helen Ball, head of Operation Trident which tackles armed crime in London's black community, said: "We have known for some time that a significant number of shootings happen in and around pubs and clubs.

"When we run these operations people see us on the streets and word gets around which is a very good deterrent.

"We have reliable intelligence that we managed to disrupt gang activity involving groups who intended to meet at one club."

Police had the power to close down clubs if they feared a significant risk of violence and they shut three venues over the holiday.

Club owners also agreed voluntarily to close their premises on 11 occasions after tip-offs about trouble.

In total police visited 200 pubs and clubs over Christmas and New Year. During the operation police found 13 bouncers who were unlicensed.

The 50 arrests were for a variety of offences ranging from attempted murder to possession of firearms and drugs and driving offences.

The operation involved so-called Neon armed stops on cars which were suspected of being associated with firearms.

Police also made use of automatic numberplate-reading cameras which flagged up suspect cars so that armed officers could pull them over.

Another initiative involved a "flying squad" of police equipped with metal detector arches who were dispatched to clubs when they received intelligence that there might be trouble.

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