Hand-held metal detectors are to be handed out to bars in Scotland in a bid to fight knife crime.
Minister for Community Safety Fergus Ewing pledged £30,000 to supply the free devices to winners of bar safety awards.
The detectors and the training to use them effectively will help keep customers safe and combat knife crime.
Mr Ewing is due to speak at the Best Bar None awards ceremony in Glasgow where 89 Glasgow premises are to receive their awards.
The awards recognise the importance promoting public safety and the highest standards of care at licensed premises right across Scotland.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Mr Ewing said: "As part of our commitment to tackle knife crime, I am delighted to announce an extra £30,000 funding for metal detectors to support the excellent work of the Best Bar None award winners.
"We are now doing more than ever to tackle knife crime with tougher sentences and tough police action to take weapons off our streets.
"Changing the booze and blade culture won't be quick and it won't be easy but we can not go on as we are.
"The Best Bar None scheme helps provide the highest standards so that all our citizens can enjoy relaxing in a safe and secure environment."
All first-time winners of the Best Bar None Awards will be offered the hand-held metal detectors from the £30,000 provided by the Scottish Government. The funding will be given to the Scottish Business Crime Centre who will co-ordinate the scheme.
The Best Bar None Awards Scheme originated in Manchester and was piloted in Glasgow in 2005 and has since expanded to Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee, Falkirk, Fife, Inverness, Perth, Stirling and West Lothian.
The scheme is in the process of being rolled out in Clackmannanshire, Midlothian, East Kilbride, Milngavie and Lerwick after the Scottish Government provided £50,000 extra funding last April.
As well as the 89 awards in Glasgow, on the same day there are 17 awards for premises in Perth and a further 29 for premises across Fife at separate ceremonies. All these winners are eligible to receive the free hand-held metal detectors.
Last updated: 09 November 2009, 16:07
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