JOE 'NOSE' WHEN YOU'VE GOT DRUGS

A dog trained to sniff out cocaine is the latest weapon in the war
against drugs in Dorset's pubs and clubs.

Four-year-old black labrador Joe will make his debut at an upmarket
bistro in Lower Parkstone next Friday night.

And Le Bateau's owner Richard Crump hopes other licensed premises in
the area will follow suit.

He told the Daily Echo: "Our main aim is to keep our customers safe; we
already swab glasses for traces of drugs if we suspect illegal substances
have been used. Positive readings result in an instant ban.
"We have security staff on the door and nine surveillance cameras.

"Joe will act as another deterrent.

"This is an affluent area; because people have more money, cocaine is
the drug of choice.

"Cocaine is widely available and we believe every pub and club in
Bournemouth and Poole should be sending out a message that drug use
and dealing will not be tolerated on their premises."

Former Dorset police officer Nigel Hubbard, now a director of
Bournemouth-based security company C&M Investigations, is backing the
scheme.

He said: "Passive drug dogs are used to screen the air around people
and detect the presence of drugs.

"They have been successfully used at concerts and nightclubs in other
parts of the country to screen queues.

"As well as detecting drugs, these dogs act as a visible
deterrent.

"Our aim is to provide a safe environment for law-abiding people to
enjoy themselves."

A spokesman for Poole-based Global Risk Security Ltd, which is also
behind the scheme, said: "Joe has been trained to sniff out cocaine
and cannabis.

"Another dog is currently being trained; I've spoken to a number of
licensees in Bournemouth and they have also shown an interest in the
scheme, which will be funded by the pubs and clubs who use the dogs.

"Cocaine is a big problem in this area and we are even approaching
schools and commercial premises to find out if they would benefit from
having Joe around.

"He is the first passive drug dog in Dorset and we're hoping to expand
the scheme across the two boroughs."