POLICE shut down a Scots pub on Hogmanay just minutes before the bells after its proprietor allegedly refused to cooperate with officers.

The incident led to three people being charged with offences, with two of those being arrested.

Officers entered the Avant Garde bar on Glasgow's King Street at about 11.30pm and told people to leave.

In videos of the incident widely shared on social media, one man can be seen being put in a headlock and tackled to the ground by multiple officers.

The recording shows a man tell police he needs to get his coat and tries to move deeper into the bar, before officers lay hands on him and a scuffle breaks out.

A woman who claimed to be with him is later also pinned to the ground by multiple officers.

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A separate video shows six police vans parked outside the bar, with reports putting as many as 50 officers at the scene.

Bar owner Billy Tetmichalis told the Mail Online that he had been forced to close because customers were not following Covid regulations. However, Police Scotland has refuted this narrative.

Tetmichalis claimed that officers had entered his bar because “some folk were dancing - that was the initial complaint”.

He said he planned to make a formal complaint to Police Scotland because the level of response was “unnecessary”.

The pub said in a statement: “Our legal capacity is 306 persons, however we only took 80 bookings to ensure people could bring in the new year safely.

“All customers were informed of the measures including the requirement for table service drink orders.

“We are disappointed with the police response which closed the bar ten minutes before the new year.”

Tetmichalis added: “There was no need. The police came to the bar the following day and served me with a notice to remain closed between 11pm on New Year's Eve to 11pm on New Year's Day.

“That was official from the police. I don't know if they are going to proceed any further.”

However, police said that their attendance at the bar had been part of a “routine visit”. A spokesperson for the force further said that the premises had been closed as the “licence holder refused to provide officers with relevant licence documentation”.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Officers carried out a routine visit at a licensed premises on King Street, Glasgow around 11.30pm on Friday 31 December 2021.

“No arrests were made in relation to Covid guidelines.

“The 63-year-old licence holder refused to provide officers with relevant licence documentation, or assist with any other requests and was charged in relation to this and obstructing police officers.

“This resulted in people being asked to leave the property.

“A 60-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman were arrested for physically assaulting and being verbally abusive to police officers, and licensing offences.

“No complaints have been received so far regarding officers conduct, if any member of the public wishes to make a complaint against an officer they can call 101 or complete a form on our website.

“Enquiries into the incident remain ongoing.”