under-age drinking and drug abuse in nightclubs, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

And Task Force boss Insp. Stuart Crockwell urged nightclub owners to ban drug users from their premises -- and to let Police know the names of offenders.

Insp. Crockwell vowed to start shutting clubs down from the end of this month if they fail to stick to the letter of the law.

He said: "The nightclubs need to get tough -- I've already told them straight out that we're going to get tough.'' The hardline move came after Task Force officers spent six weeks monitoring nightclubs -- and found a host of violations.

Insp. Crockwell said: "I've given them to the end of April to straighten up their acts.

"After that, we're going back in and if we see any offences, we'll close them down and they'll have to answer to a Magistrate.

"I will walk in a club and turn all the lights on -- if anyone's under 18, that's the step I will take.'' And he added: "I don't expect nightclub staff to go up to drug abusers -- it would cause a whole lot of trouble.

"But they should get their names, send them registered letters banning them from the premises and let us know -- we can even assist by getting them pictures they can put up outside their clubs.

"Clubs have to stop young people taking over certain spots in nightclubs and smoking marijuana.'' Insp. Crockwell said recent changes to the law made it mandatory for stewards to ask for ID as proof of age.

But he added: "They are not asking for ID -- which defeats the purpose of the law.

"What's going to happen is we're going to start prosecuting and they will lose their licences.'' Insp. Crockwell added that club owners would then face a court appearance and have to go back to the Liquor Licencing Board to reapply for their licence -- and suffer a massive loss of revenue while their clubs were closed.

He said: "And they will have to guarantee that they will put things in place to combat these problems and heed our advice.'' Insp. Crockwell added that youngsters who get into nightclubs were being exposed to alcohol and illegal drugs -- and that their schoolwork was suffering as a result.

He said: "We have these kids who are buying drinks or having drinks bought for them and they're also abusing drugs.'' Task Force is applauded Insp. Crockwell added that -- from visits to schools and talking to teachers -- he had been told that youngsters who burn the candle at both ends were underperforming in class.

He said: "Teachers are saying when they come to school on Monday morning, they're not really at school. They're catching up on their sleep.

"We have to get tough -- we are losing a lot of our kids through the night life.

"But as soon as we get tough with them and stop under-18s getting into these places we will have better control over where they are socialising, who they're socialising with and what they're using.'' Insp. Crockwell was speaking after he was due to address a meeting of the National PTA -- which was cancelled due to lack of support.

But National PTA chairman Anthony Steede said: "I certainly support the efforts of the Task Force and their efforts to protect our children.''