A TOWN centre nightclub which has been linked to violence had its licence revoked on Wednesday.
Police had presented the council's licensing sub-committee with a thick dossier about The Roxbury.
In it, Detective Superintendent Simon Messinger says there is strong intelligence linking the club to a gang, although the name is blacked out.
He writes: "Identified members of this group have been seen in and around the venue on a regular basis."
Omitting the name, he said they are in dispute with a number of other gangs within Croydon and other London boroughs, both north and south.
But David Dadds, the legal representative for The Roxbury, hit back at such links when he spoke at the hearing at the town hall.
Mr Dadds told the committee: "Known gang members, known to who? Known to the police, not to us.
"People don't go round with a badge, like McDonald's, saying I'm a gang member."
Mr Dadds accused the police of using a "sledgehammer to crack a nut".
He added: "Partnership is about working together and problem-solving jointly. We do want to promote the licensing objectives. This is the first review we've had.
"We believe there is a middle way which is a suspension to deal with these things identified."
But Met lawyer Luke Ponte argued the police couldn't be accused of giving The Roxbury "sufficient warning and time to get its house in order."
Mr Ponte told the hearing: "The police have take every step it can to avoid this hearing, but to no avail."
Last week, the Advertiser revealed statements handed to the licensing sub-committee included evidence that the head of a gang member was hit with a tripod on the dance floor, while more than 500 people were left queuing outside after ticket sales for an event exceeded the capacity.
The Roxbury has been shut since November 10, due to fears of a shooting at a promoted event where gang members were reported to be planning to gather.
Police thought a rival gang could have been plotting revenge following a death in July.
Councillor Maria Gatland, chair of the sub-committee, agreed that the only course of action was to revoke the licence, rather than temporarily suspend it for a month, as had been suggested by The Roxbury.
