Police swab Northumberland pubs for drugs

Dec 19 2009 by Sophie Doughty, The Journal

POLICE are sweeping rural pubs for traces of illegal drugs. In a bid to rid the bars in North Northumberland of deadly substances officers are using special DNA-style swab kits to find out if any narcotics are being taken by drinkers.

Northumbria Police have teamed up with Northumberland’s Drugs and Alcohol Team (DAAT) to launch Operation Achilles, which kicked off this week.

Over the festive period neighbourhood police in Alnwick, Amble, Rothbury and the Coquet Valley are carrying out high- profile patrols around pubs in the area.

And officers have been equipped with swab kits which will be used to take samples from toilet seats, wash basin tops and other areas where people might take drugs.

These will then be sent for analysis to discover what substances are being abused in the area’s pubs and clubs and how often.

And neighbourhood Inspector Sue Peart has warned that anyone found to be using drugs will be barred from all their local pubs under the Pubwatch scheme.

“There isn’t a great drug problem in our towns and villages but it would be naive to say that recreational drugs taking does not go on,” she said. “Our communities are telling us that this a concern and Operation Achilles is designed to tackle the problem before it becomes an issue.

“The pub licensees involved in the scheme deserve real credit. Even at these difficult times they are coming together to send a strong message to say anyone found taking or supplying drugs in their premises will be barred. Our communities should be pleased that we have such responsible licensees.”

The operation is being publicised by posters displayed in toilets and pubs.

And a bespoke Bluetooth message is being sent to drinkers’ mobile phones.