Licensees back drug tests despite research results

Licensees are backing tests for drugs on pub premises - despite traces of cocaine being found in nine out of 10 pubs during recent research.

Kidsgrove Community Action Team (KCAT) visited pubs in Kidsgrove in North Staffordshire equipped with a hi-tech drug testing machine.

Swabs were taken from surfaces such as toilet cisterns and windowsills to test for a range of drugs, but specifically those such as cocaine, which users usually snort. Nine out of the 10 pubs tested were found to have some traces of drugs present. Publican Bernadette Willis of the Caldwell Tavern in Talke Pits, which was one of the pubs tested, said: "It was of real use to us, and will ensure we keep on our guard the whole time."

Jason Johnson-Smith, licensee of the Plough Inn in Kidsgrove, said: "Our pub was tested, and the positive findings came as a shock. We're soon to refurbish, and have taken police advice, so there will be no cisterns in the toilets and rough tiles on windowsills."

Licensee David Salt of The Skylark in Talke Pits, said that he would have welcomed the police onto his premises.

"It might have helped dissuade punters from taking drugs, you can't have eyes in the back of your head," Mr Salt said.

KCAT has produced an advice pack for licensees, which advises greasing surfaces with petroleum jelly or household oil, or using sloping or serrated surfaces to prevent cocaine use.

Sergeant Martin Steventon of KCAT said: "The purpose of this initiative is to raise awareness among licensees, and to assist them in making their premises less conducive to drug abuse."

Sgt Steventon said officers would be making further use of the drugs machine, which is currently shared among the North Staffordshire Police Division.

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