Posted on 12/27/2002 2:42:38 AM PST by SheLion
Pub and club revelers face a drugs test as soon as they enter the premises. Anyone going into a bar, whether they arouse suspicion or not, will be asked to take a swab test, which highlights any drug use.
The scheme is being run by police in south Staffordshire and will initially cover the towns of Cannock and Stafford.
Police have warned that anyone refusing will automatically arouse suspicion and have told establishments that do not co-operate that it will be held against them when their licenses come up for renewal.
Liberty, the civil rights pressure group, said it was "deeply worried" and accused the police of operating "by coercion rather than by consent".
Chief Supt Nick Lowe, division commander, said: "The beauty of it is that it is so quick. It will allow us to test hundreds of people in a very, very short amount of time. A swab will be placed on the hand and will show up green, amber or red, depending on if there are drugs in the person's system.
"If it shows red, which means definite contact with drugs, the police can intimate their powers under the Misuse of Drugs Act to stop and search the person, and then arrest them if necessary.
"If it is green or amber no action will be taken. If someone refuses, then it is a tick in the first box of suspicion. Police officers are present and it may be that further questions will be asked."
The equipment used is a £40,000 computer the size of a briefcase, funded by the Communities against Drugs Fund. A swab on the back of the hand, which is then fed into the computer, will test for ecstasy, cannabis, heroin, cocaine, amphetamines and also rohipnol, the so-called date rape drug.
The test with results takes about eight seconds and does not provide officers with a DNA sample. The swabs are thrown away immediately.
Mr Lowe said: "We have clear evidence that a large volume of crime is drugs-related, whether it be for violence, vehicle crime or anti-social behaviour.
"The tests appeal to the general majority of the public who want to use drug-free premises. Most people are happy to do it."
Because there is only one computer, the police will also be operating with dummy ones in other premises.
Gareth Crossman, a Liberty spokesman, said: "This is an extremely questionable use of police powers. The police cannot force someone who is not under arrest to take a drug test but they are implying they can.
"To then use a perfectly legitimate refusal to comply as part of the justification for suspicion is an abuse of policing powers."
not to mention EZ-Pass...
it can be gathered exactly what you have been doing, where and with who!!
Now, not in the future!!
I can just imagine how delighted this must make certain FReepers.
After all, it's sanctioned by the local government.
The times they are a-changin!
What??!!
"Certain Freepers..........$#%%%@$^&%%%**$"
I can just see it: "Give me a shot and a pee cup, barkeep." oh geeeeeeze.......
you are female, have a boyfriend, love NASCAR and are a Republican!!
I am FBI (Female Body Inspector)!!!
OH NO!!!!!!!!!! I'M DONE!!!!!!!!!!
(Except for the boyfriend. The boyfriend turned into a hubby. heh)
tell him to love you and leave little notes... occasionally!!
Some people just will not be happy until the gov. controls EVERY aspect of their lives.
That's sweet, Nitro............he doesn't leave notes, but he makes up for it in other ways. He buys me lots of scratch offs. hehe
Oh ~whew! I misunderstood your post. I see where your coming from now, and aren't you so right! A lot of people want Government intervention for EVERYTHING! Sickening, isn't it!
If you hit for a Million, will you take him with you??
Don't tell me, the answer will tell you!!
You must be young, the USA as the Founding Fathers imagined it is thing of the past...
it has been since Federal Income Tax was rammed illegally down our throats!!!
Imagine, you run out of money.. for whatever reason.. kids braces.. too many whores.. lost wages in Las Vegas...
and you go to the Boss and say...
you will just have to give me more money...
it doesn't matter that I am a loser and hemmorage cash...
I demand more...
Meet Uncle Sam!!
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