AN AIRPORT-style metal detector will be outside an Oxford club tonight as police fear a retribution attack over a Halloween stabbing.

The knife arch will check more than 500 revellers expected at The Regal’s over 18s Urban Love Bonfire Party in Cowley Road when doors open at 10pm.

A 16-year-old boy was knifed eight or nine times in the chest on Sunday morning after a fight involving 20 people outside the Baby Love bar in King Edward Street.

Det Insp Simon Morton, of St Aldates police station, said: “We are worried that there might be retaliation for the stabbing and this is being treated very seriously.

“We won’t accept this kind of nonsense in Oxford.

“If you decide carry a knife, expect to be arrested.

“We will be paying visits to everyone involved in last weekend’s incident and warning them about their future conduct and how seriously we will handle any form of retribution.”

The move is part of the force’s Nightsafe operation, a joint police, council, NHS and business operation to stamp out disorder.

Mr Morton said: “I would like to reassure the public that patrols will be stepped up in the city and surrounding areas in conjunction with the Nightsafe operation to address any issues that might arise.”

And officers said staff at other busy nightspots would be using metal detector wands on people entering venues.

Up to 15,000 people are expected to be out in the city this weekend for the annual fireworks display at South Park.

There were 141 recorded city stabbings between April 2009 and March this year, down nine on the 12 months before that. A further 65 were recorded from April this year.

The move comes amid concerns about knife incidents in East Oxford.

On Saturday, October 9, a 31-year-old man was attacked with a knife in toilets in Cowley Road.

Calvin John Souch, 38, of Cowley, was charged with grievous bodily harm with intent, criminal damage and possession of cannabis.

Five days later, a 20-year-old fresher student was knifed outside the Hobgoblin pub in East Oxford.

Benjamin Hepburn, 22, of Spooner Close, Headington, admitted grievous bodily harm with intent and will be sentenced next week.

Insp Matt Bullivant, city centre and Nightsafe inspector for Oxford, said: “We are aware there have been a number of incidents in the city recently and, as such, we wanted to run an operation over the weekend where the police and licensed premises visibly step up security and ensure that it passes without incident.

“The message is quite simple: knives ruin lives. Whether you’re the person using one, or the person on the receiving end.”

A spokesman for The Regal, who refused to be named, said the club had previously used knife arches.

They said: “We constantly do 100 per cent searches and we do physical checks and pat down searches of everyone who comes into the venue. We want people to be safe. Don’t bring anything in because we will find it.”

l Mahesh Bennett, 25, of Mora Street, London, was charged with grievous bodily harm with intent over last Saturday’s stabbing and will appear at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, November 12.