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Islington Tribune - by TOM FOOT
Published: 26 September 2008

PARTY 'ENDS IN CHAOS' AS MAN IS SHOT

Police close exclusive nightclub for 28 days amid fears of ‘serious crime’

A BIRTHDAY party in an exclusive Clerkenwell nightclub ended in chaos after a fight spilled out into the street and a man was shot in the thigh.
Shots were fired as party-goers left the private function in Dust nightclub, in Clerkenwell Road, in the early hours of Saturday.
A 28 year old man – believed to have been caught in the cross fire – remains in hospital with gunshot wounds to the leg that police say are not life-threatening.
Chief Inspector Steve Riley from Islington police said: “There is the potential for serious crime and disorder at Dust nightclub. It is our responsibility to ensure the people of Islington are kept safe and we will use every means available to us to achieve this.”
There have been no arrests.
The management of Dust released a statement on Wednesday confirming they are “currently co-operating and assisting the police with their enquiries.”
The statement added: “We will also be working with the police and Islington Council on any review to ensure the four licensing objectives are promoted.”
In a statement, Islington Police said it had temporarily closed Dust nightclub
after successfully applying to Islington Council on Monday to suspend the club’s licence.
A spokeswoman said: “The temporary suspension was sought because police believe there is the potential for further serious crime and disorder at the club and that the premises were not being run appropriately.”
Dust nightclub will remain closed for at least 28 days until a full review hearing will come before the council.
This is the third time this kind of suspension has been used in Islington following incidents of serious violence.
Councillor Tracy Ismail, Lib Dem chairwoman of Islington Council’s licensing committee, said: “The police felt it was important to call for the suspension of the licence, and the licensing committee thought it was important to support the police.”
Dust opened over two floors in 1998 in a renovated Victorian factory building. With a capacity of 350, and a drinking licence until 4am, it has won plaudits as “London’s original and leading DJ bar”.
Regularly hosting art exhibitions, it won an award alongside the London Eye and Somerset House as a “Coolbrand Leader” in 2005.

* Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 0208 733 4774 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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