LICENSING bosses threw out a bid by Merseyside Police to impose a magnetic knife arch on a city bar.

Water Street’s Newz Bar was hauled before Liverpool Council’s licensing committee yesterday after an early hours stabbing on October 4 left one man “lucky to be alive”.

Two men, 37 and 33, suffered arm and leg injuries in the attack, which escalated after a drink was spilled on a woman.

The meeting heard police were close to investigating a murder because an artery in the man’s thigh was severed.

Paul Barrow, representing the bar, said: “To put a knife arch at the front of premises which have operated safely for 10 years is disproportionate.

“Dozens of venues have had similar problems but do not have to put up with this.”

The bar said it would voluntarily move to using polycarbonate pint and half-pint glasses and was already using magnetic wands to check for weapons.

Merseyside Police licensing officer Stuart Moore said the incident was “extremely serious”.

PC Moore said: “We have identified target criminals as being regular customers and are concerned there is an element of the clientele who are prepared to carry bladed instruments.

“My concern is door staff would be selective as to who they use a magnetic wand on and target criminals could get into the venue.”