POLICE launched an investigation yesterday after a Glasgow security firm director and his family were targeted in a drive-by shooting.

The incident happened late on Tuesday night at the home of Mr John Jeffrey, at Durward Avenue, in the Shawlands area of the city.

A Strathclyde Police spokes-woman confirmed that several shots were fired through the downstairs living room window of the terraced property, as Mr Jeffrey, 45, his 38-year-old wife, and two children, a boy aged 12 and a 10-year-old girl, slept upstairs.

No-one was injured in the incident, but police said the matter was being treated as attempted murder.

It is believed two people drove up to the house on a motorbike, with one entering the garden to fire the gun. They then sped off in the direction of St Ronans Drive.

Police yesterday conducted door-to-door inquiries in the area and appealed for any witnesses who may have have seen the two men loitering outside the house before the shooting.

They declined to give any further details about the incident, such as the motive or the type of gun used. A spokeswoman would not comment on reports that Mr Jeffrey believed he had not been chosen at random. He is reported to have claimed he knew who was responsible, but refused to be intimidated by their actions, and insisted the police would catch the culprits.

Mr Jeffrey, who is understood to be a director of Glasgow-based firm Major Security, said last night: ''It's in the hands of the CID and I don't want to say anything that will interfere with the police investigation.''

Major Security declined to comment on the incident.

Govan Labour MP Mohammed Sarwar said: ''It is shocking for any family to be the victims of such a disgusting attack in what should be the safety of their own home. I am very relieved that no-one was hurt, but sickened that such a shooting could take place.''

Anyone with information should contact the local police station on 0141 532 4900, or the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.

The attack coincided with the announcement of Government plans to tighten firearms laws, which are reserved to Westminster, to prevent the development of a ''gun culture''.

Ministers - responding to recommendations in a Home Affairs Committee report - said there should be stricter controls on the ownership of shotguns. A ban on the sale of imitation firearms to under-18s could also be introduced and airguns may have to be sold through registered firearms dealers. The Government stepped back from recommending a total ban on young people handling guns, although it will prohibit their unsupervised use by under 16s.

The Home Office rejected one of the committee's main recommendations, for a licensing system for Britain's four million airguns, on the grounds that it would be too cumbersome, costly, and difficult to administer.

Ministers said the measures would improve public safety but added that they did not want to prevent youngsters training to reach competitive levels in shooting sports. The decision follows the Olympic success of shooting gold-medallist Richard Faulds and Ian Peel, who won a silver medal.

Home Secretary Jack Straw also announced yesterday - following a request from the National Rifle Association - that pistol shooting events could be held at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, and the Commonwealth Shooting Federation in 2001.

The decision did not affect the existing ban on handguns, which was introduced after the Dunblane tragedy, said the Home Office.

Scotland Secretary John Reid said: ''Our firearms controls are already among the strongest in the world and these new proposals will increase their effectiveness.''

In Scotland last year, the number of offences in which a firearm was alleged to have been used rose by 5%.

The gun lobby said the new measures would affect law-abiding people who enjoyed shooting and fail to prevent criminals getting hold of guns.