Police deny they are slacking in tackling night club violence but they have refused to respond in detail to allegations made by Champions night club president Delvin Bean.

In yesterday's The Royal Gazette Mr. Bean said undermanned Police sometimes failed to respond when clubs called for help or even stood by watching when trouble flared.

He called on Police to increase weekend manpower to respond to the rising tide of violence around night spots.

Yesterday Police issued a press release promising a meeting with Mr. Bean to discuss specific incidents “where he felt the Police response was not as robust as it should have been”.

The statement said Police did not shy away from dealing with illegal activity at licensed premises and would continue to work with license holders after last week's meeting where “there was a frank exchange of information” about how security should be improved.

However, the release failed to detail what was suggested or deal with claims that Police were operating with just eight officers covering Hamilton on some weekends.

These claims were backed up by Rick Olsen, owner of The Beach on Front Street, who said he agreed with the majority of Mr. Bean's views.

He said: “I think the Police are so understaffed. They need people on the beat. Three people doing a ten-minute loop along Front Street where the majority of problems are would help.”

He said most clubs had already complied with Police recommendations to install cameras and metal detectors.

Mr. Olsen said: “We are doing everything you ask, now it's time the Police pulled their socks up.”

He also agreed with Mr. Bean's claim that the majority of problems were caused by people already barred from clubs who returned to cause trouble.