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Drinkers face drug test as they enter the pub-Oh My!
NEWS.telegraph.co.uk ^ | Nick Britten

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."

 


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: bars; drug; freedoms; michaeldobbs; pubs; swab; testing
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first 1-2021-4041-6061-63 next last
This could rub off on the United States.
1 posted on 12/27/2002 2:42:38 AM PST by SheLion
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To: SheLion
Will it rub the gums??
2 posted on 12/27/2002 2:44:06 AM PST by Nitro
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To: *all
Freedoms Lost


3 posted on 12/27/2002 2:45:22 AM PST by SheLion
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To: SheLion
If you have a Bank Card, Credit Cards and a Cell Phone...

not to mention EZ-Pass...

it can be gathered exactly what you have been doing, where and with who!!

Now, not in the future!!

4 posted on 12/27/2002 2:49:35 AM PST by Nitro
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To: SheLion
Oh yeah, it can.

I can just imagine how delighted this must make certain FReepers.

After all, it's sanctioned by the local government.

5 posted on 12/27/2002 2:51:02 AM PST by Madame Dufarge
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To: SheLion
I hope.
6 posted on 12/27/2002 2:51:43 AM PST by 185JHP
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To: Nitro
it can be gathered exactly what you have been doing, where and with who!!

The times they are a-changin!


7 posted on 12/27/2002 2:53:56 AM PST by SheLion
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To: 185JHP
I hope.

What??!!

8 posted on 12/27/2002 2:54:58 AM PST by SheLion
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To: Madame Dufarge
After all, it's sanctioned by the local government.

"Certain Freepers..........$#%%%@$^&%%%**$"

9 posted on 12/27/2002 2:56:02 AM PST by SheLion
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To: Madame Dufarge
After all, it's sanctioned by the local government.

I can just see it: "Give me a shot and a pee cup, barkeep." oh geeeeeeze.......

10 posted on 12/27/2002 2:57:14 AM PST by SheLion
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To: SheLion
In a few moments I have been able to find out that...

you are female, have a boyfriend, love NASCAR and are a Republican!!

I am FBI (Female Body Inspector)!!!

11 posted on 12/27/2002 2:58:16 AM PST by Nitro
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To: Nitro
you are female, have a boyfriend, love NASCAR and are a Republican!!

OH NO!!!!!!!!!! I'M DONE!!!!!!!!!!

(Except for the boyfriend. The boyfriend turned into a hubby. heh)

12 posted on 12/27/2002 3:00:34 AM PST by SheLion
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To: SheLion
We have decided the marriage will last...

tell him to love you and leave little notes... occasionally!!

13 posted on 12/27/2002 3:03:44 AM PST by Nitro
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To: SheLion
What??!!

Some people just will not be happy until the gov. controls EVERY aspect of their lives.

14 posted on 12/27/2002 3:04:22 AM PST by thepitts
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To: Nitro
tell him to love you and leave little notes... occasionally!!

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

15 posted on 12/27/2002 3:12:28 AM PST by SheLion
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To: thepitts
Some people just will not be happy until the gov. controls EVERY aspect of their lives.

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!

16 posted on 12/27/2002 3:15:00 AM PST by SheLion
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To: SheLion
He buys me lots of scratch offs. hehe

If you hit for a Million, will you take him with you??

Don't tell me, the answer will tell you!!

17 posted on 12/27/2002 3:21:10 AM PST by Nitro
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To: thepitts
They don't already do that??

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!!

18 posted on 12/27/2002 3:27:24 AM PST by Nitro
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To: KLT; hellinahandcart
Ping!!
19 posted on 12/27/2002 3:34:13 AM PST by Nitro
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To: Nitro
m
20 posted on 12/27/2002 3:51:05 AM PST by Nick Thimmesch
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