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UK: Revellers facing drug tests

Staff Reporter

Birmingham Post

Monday 23 Dec 2002

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Revellers across the Midlands will face drug tests this holiday period
as soon as they step into pubs and clubs.

Party-goers in Staffordshire could be stopped by police and asked to
take a swab test that will reveal if they have taken any illegal
substance.

The scheme, being trailed in the south of the county, will initially
cover Cannock and Stafford and the public could be tested even if they
are not acting suspiciously.

Police chiefs have warned establishments that if they do not co-operate
with the project it could count against them when their licences are up
for renewal.

The scheme has angered civil rights groups which claim police would be
operating by "coercion rather than by consent".

Equipment in the project includes a 40,000 pound computer funded by the
Communities Against Drugs fund.

A swab will be taken from the back of the hand and processed by the
computer to test for ecstasy, cannabis, heroin, cocaine and the date
rape drug rohipnol. The tests will reveal results within eight seconds
but will not provide officers with a DNA sample.

Chief Supt Nick Lowe, division commander, said: "The computer will allow
us to test hundreds of people in a very short amount of time. A swab
will be placed on the hand and will show up green, amber or red,
depending on whether there are drugs in the person's system. Red means
definite contact with drugs.

"If someone refuses, then it is a tick in the box of suspicion and it
may be that further questions will be asked." Because there is only one
computer, the police will be using a dummy on other premises at the same
time to deter drug takers.

Gareth Crossman, spokesman for civil rights group Liberty, said: "The
police cannot force someone who is not under arrest to take a drug test,
but they are implying they can."

 

 

 

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