UK: Pub Drug Tests Will Go On

Puffin13 · Post by **Puffin13** » Tue 7th Oct 2008 07:01 am

Pub Drug Tests Will Go On

Police have vowed to continue surprise drugs tests at Oxford pubs despite only catching two people in their latest searches.

As part of a crackdown on antisocial behaviour, police targeted pubs in Headington on Friday.

Helped by black Labradors Benson and Giz and their handler Phil Munt, of Corporate Search, a team of 15 officers took to the streets.

The team made surprise drug searches in nine pubs and one person was arrested for possession of a class A drug, and another was cautioned for possession of cannabis. The number of arrests was down from a previous operation, when six people were caught with drugs.

But the team also arrested a man on suspicion of burglary after he was found in a stolen Mercedes car in the White Horse car park.

Pc Jeremy Kidd, who led the operation, said he hoped the message was getting through that antisocial behaviour, including drug-taking, is not tolerated.

He said: "We use the dogs on all the pubs that fall within our boundaries.

"One of the neighbourhood policing priorities is to tackle anti-social behaviour and that antisocial behaviour often goes hand in hand with the misuse of drugs."

Karen Crossan, Oxford Nightsafe manager, said: "It is about communicating and getting the message out that by all means go and enjoy a night out but don't carry drugs on you."

Craig Hambridge, 19, who was drinking with friends at the Chequers, in Quarry Hollow, said: "I'm not too fussed about it. They're only doing their jobs, but they should be out catching proper criminals."

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Source: Oxford Mail
Copyright: 2008 Newsquest
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Website: Pub drug tests will go on (From Oxford Mail)

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courtjester · Post by **courtjester** » Tue 7th Oct 2008 11:06 am

I'm not for cruelty to animals, especially the human animal, so this is nothing that shooting a few well-trained dogs couldn't fix.

echc1 · Post by **echc1** » Tue 7th Oct 2008 08:05 pm

and yet another example of civil liberties and human rights being trashed...welcome to police state nazi britain.....thought crime is already here....if they run them dogs round here all the pubs/clubs would be closed and customerless

BigRigRob · Post by **BigRigRob** » Wed 8th Oct 2008 01:50 am

courtjester wrote:I'm not for cruelty to animals, especially the human animal, so this is nothing that shooting a few well-trained dogs couldn't fix.

Oxcasual · Post by **Oxcasual** » Mon 13th Oct 2008 01:42 pm

They have been using dogs in Oxford city center for 2-3 years now. The normal tactic is, a plain clothed dog handeler to walk the dog along where people are queing for a pub or club etc. 'IF' the dog smells drugs it gives its signal to its owner & they walk on normally, then radio tucked away police who to search etc.

I just keep my eyes peeled if out in town & just carry what I need for the night.

Ash333 · Post by **Ash333** » Mon 13th Oct 2008 02:35 pm

Oxcasual wrote:They have been using dogs in Oxford city center for 2-3 years now. The normal tactic is, a plain clothed dog handeler to walk the dog along where people are queing for a pub or club etc. 'IF' the dog smells drugs it gives its signal to its owner & they walk on normally, then radio tucked away police who to search etc.

I just keep my eyes peeled if out in town & just carry what I need for the night.

If the dogs could smell charlie or smack I'd be for these dogs 100%. Keep hard drugs off our streets! But for the herb? come on this is meant to be a civilised country

geoffk · Post by **geoffk** » Mon 13th Oct 2008 04:34 pm

Wow! And I thought we had the police state.

Oxcasual · Post by **Oxcasual** » Mon 13th Oct 2008 06:41 pm

Ash333 wrote:
Oxcasual wrote:They have been using dogs in Oxford city center for 2-3 years now. The normal tactic is, a plain clothed dog handeler to walk the dog along where people are queing for a pub or club etc. 'IF' the dog smells drugs it gives its signal to its owner & they walk on normally, then radio tucked away police who to search etc.

I just keep my eyes peeled if out in town & just carry what I need for the night.
If the dogs could smell charlie or smack I'd be for these dogs 100%. Keep hard drugs off our streets! But for the herb? come on this is meant to be a civilised country

To be fair, they were brought in to crack down on coke use in the city center pubs & clubs after they found evidence of coke use in about 99.9% of them. Its all about them saying 'We are here & watching you'. They probably do it about once every 2 mouths or so. I've heard of people being stopped & searched, then let go, because they cant find anything! Its an excuse to stop & search people!!!!!

happydaze777 · Post by **happydaze777** » Mon 13th Oct 2008 09:03 pm

My local police force had a much trumpeted similar activity in my local town(Warwickshire) last summer too. 4 Coppers and a dog entered all the major pubs on Friday night, stopping and searching anyone who the dog identified. One 'friend' was searched after been identified by the dog. He was not in possession but had been smoking that evening. Obviously the police didn't know that and all was well.

The vitriolic local media attention that this campaign recived, was a joke... Good to know the police have got their priority’s right. Three weeks ago we had a poor lad stabbed in the neck in broad daylight outside one of our towns busiest pubs...

Toker70 · Post by **Toker70** » Mon 13th Oct 2008 09:11 pm

Christ for once i feel lucky to be living in Ireland(southern coast),i have never seen a k9 unit and we have no police choppers the only time our DS find drugs is after a tip off(rats) or just pure luck on their part

murphyscafe · Post by **murphyscafe** » Mon 13th Oct 2008 09:13 pm

Toker70 wrote:Christ for once i feel lucky to be living in Ireland(southern coast),i have never seen a k9 unit and we have no police choppers the only time our DS find drugs is after a tip off(rats) or just pure luck on their part

them were the days!

they couldnt smell it if u blew it in there faces!

user54321 · Post by **user54321** » Mon 13th Oct 2008 10:34 pm

Toker70 wrote:Christ for once i feel lucky to be living in Ireland(southern coast),i have never seen a k9 unit and we have no police choppers the only time our DS find drugs is after a tip off(rats) or just pure luck on their part

s'like Govan back in the day, only time there was ever a polis on the streets he was being chased by kids with samurai swords