Pub customers face on-spot drug tests (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Pub customers face on-spot drug tests

5:46pm Monday 23rd August 2004 in News By Owen Morris

POLICE are taking the fight against drugs into pubs across the district with on-the-spot checks on drinkers.

Officers are to work with landlords to carry out drug tests on customers using new equipment which can detect up to 200 types of drugs, including cocaine, heroin, cannabis, amphetamine and ecstasy.

"Over the coming weeks any pub customer may find themselves facing the test in Harpenden, St Albans or London Colney," said one officer.

All landlords in the area are being invited to ask for the £35,000 testing equipment, called an itemiser.

During a test a special cloth is wiped across the palm of a customer and placed in the itemiser for analysis.

A result comes up within ten seconds.

The itemiser was first trialled in the Beehive in Keyfield Terrace, St Albans, last October.

Of 35 people tested, 21 were found to have been in contact with drugs but none were found to be in possession of them.

The latest initiative was launched in Harpenden on Tuesday when 152 customers of The George pub in High Street were tested as they entered the bar.

Four tested positive for recent contact with illegal substances. Officers searched these people but no one was found to be possessing drugs.

The operation was overseen by Community Inspector Mike Hanson and involved the St Albans, Harpenden and London Colney community police teams and special constables.

The George, which is part of the St Albans Pubwatch scheme, volunteered to take part in the operation and the landlord made it a condition of entry that patrons and staff agreed to be tested.

Pubwatch chairman and manager of Batchwood nightclub Peter Bell said: "The night time economy is massive and still growing. We want the message to come across that, although St Albans is no worse than anywhere in the country, the misuse of drugs will not be accepted in any licensed premises."

PC Dick Mabbitt from the Harpenden community team said: "The itemiser has enabled us to deal with drug issues at licensed premises and has been fully supported by those pubs in Pubwatch.

"If the itemiser detects traces of drugs, that gives us grounds to carry out a search of the person to see if they are in possession of controlled substances.

"It may be, however, that they have unintentionally been in contact with someone who has been involved with drugs.

"Most customers at The George were more than happy to be tested."

He added: "We intend to do some more tests in pubs over the next few weeks so the message is any pub customer may find themselves facing the test in Harpenden, St Albans or London Colney."

Landlord of The George Darren Fraser said: "We were very happy to work with police in our community and help cut out drugs in Harpenden."