More than 120 pub-goers were scanned by police officers with metal detectors outside a busy Inverness city centre pub.
And yesterday it was confirmed that all of the checks at JD Wetherspoon’s bar, The King’s Highway, were negative.
The weekend trial was part of anti-social behaviour campaign Operation Respect and was set up to act as a deterrent to anyone carrying offensive weapons.
Mo voluntary searches carried out after pub-goers set off the police’s metal detectors at the Church Street pub.
Following the successful trial, the metal detectors will be used at other city bars in the coming weeks.
Chief Superintendent Julian Innes said: “We do not have a knife culture in Inverness; however we are committed to ensuring that the patrons and staff at licensed premises are kept safe.
“This initiative underlines the work we are doing with our partners as part of Operation Respect in the city.
“This will act as a strong deterrent and supplement the intelligence led activity we routinely carry out to detect and report those who are tempted to carry knives or weapons in public places.”
The operation was run in partnership with other community safety groups in Inverness.
Pub Watch chairman Don Lawson said: “One of my aims is to provide a safe and secure environment for, not only patrons of licensed premises, but also the staff who work within these premises.
“It doesn’t send out the wrong message, it sends out a deterrent. The safest place to go for a drink is a pub.”
Malcolm Raeburn, Inverness Business Improvement District’s community safety manager, said: “Across Inverness, there are a number of safe licensed premises, all of whom operate with a zero tolerance policy on anti-social and illegal behaviour.
“The pole will act as a deterrent and as a result members of the public will feel even safer.”