COCAINE USE RIFE IN TOWN PUBS AND CLUBS

COCAINE and heroin abuse is rife in Grantham's pubs and clubs, an
operation headed by police has found.

Random drug testing and searches in the town centre led to four
arrests for possession of drugs on Saturday.

Testing of surfaces in clubs at the beginning and end of the night
also revealed that recreational drug use is commonplace.

Sandy Kavanagh, community safety officer at SKDC, was part of the
team tackling the problem at the weekend.

He said: "It was mainly cocaine that was found but also a little bit of heroin.

"There is a distinct heroin problem in Grantham with addicts and
users but cocaine is the type of drug used by recreational drug users.

"Cocaine is addictive and if used enough, people can get hooked and
obviously that causes problems."

The operation saw surfaces in Grantham clubs swabbed early in the
evening and again late at night. The results showed the presence of
cocaine and heroin.

Mr Kavanagh said: "We know there is a heroin problem in Grantham but
in pubs and clubs it is mainly the recreational drugs so we would not
have expected to find too much heroin.

"There are heroin users in Grantham and from time to time they use
pub toilets. But the thing that concerns publicans is cocaine.

"The mix of cocaine and alcohol is volatile and can be responsible
for violent outbursts."

Mr Kavanagh says the problem has got worse over the years but insists
the authorities are taking it seriously.

He said: "We have always taken the problem very seriously. By working
with the county council and police we can use our resources more efficiently.

"I think it would be a very difficult thing to eliminate completely.
I don't think you will ever be able to when there are so many dealers
making money out of it. We can only do our best."

The SKDC community safety team are working with licensees to
'design-out' the problem by offering advice like not having as many
flat surfaces in toilets and installing better lighting.