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UK: Drugs dogs at station

Helen Barnes

This Is Richmond

Monday 14 Jan 2002

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Police arrested seven people during a high profile drugs operation at
Twickenham station on Wednesday morning in response to growing concerns
about drug use at Richmond College.

Sniffer dogs tracked passengers arriving at the station during the
four-hour operation to check if they were carrying drugs ranging from
cannabis to amphetamines and cocaine.

More than 30 people were searched during the operation, and police made
four arrests for possession of a class B drug.

There were also arrests for the possession of an offensive weapon and fare
evasion, and officers stopped a man wanted in connection with firearms and
drugs offences in Lambeth.

Police targeted Twickenham station to catch students travelling from
outside the borough to the college in Egerton Road, and said that four of
the seven people arrested in the operation indicated that they were
students there.

College principal Eric Kirby said a strict anti-drugs policy was enforced
at the college and that students found in possession of drugs would be
expelled.

He said: The college will not tolerate the possession or consumption of
illegal drugs or other harmful substances on the college site, and the
penalty for any student disregarding this rule is immediate suspension
pending expulsion.

The college works closely with the police to ensure that this issue is
dealt with in an effective manner.

This policy has been in place for a considerable period of time and there
is no intention to soften it in the light if current national debates with
regard to the relaxation of associated legislation.

Inspector Mark Jones, who organised the operation, said it would act as a
deterrent against crime.

We made seven arrests and the majority of those people were from outside
the borough. This will send a strong message back to people thinking of
coming to Richmond to commit crime, that we are actively carrying out
operations.

Essentially this was a crime prevention exercise as well as a drugs exercise.

 

 

 

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