POLICE PRAISE FOR NIGHTCLUB STANCE OVER DRUGS

A Blackpool Nightclub Has Been Praised For Leading A Crackdown On Drugs.

Brannigans, on Market Street, which is under new management, was said
by police to have a significant problem with customers using banned
substances, in particular cocaine.

However, officers from Blackpool's specialist Nightsafe unit who
police the resort's bars and clubs say staff at the club, led by new
general manager Taz Shah, have instituted a zero tolerance policy on
drugs and led a major crackdown.

An estimated 90 small bags of drugs are said to have been confiscated
from customers in a four-week period.

Doormen have been searching customers at the door and have received
specialist training in "sniffing out" potential offenders.

PC Steve Hardman hoped all licensees could follow their example.

He said: "The new management really need to be applauded because they
have really taken on board what we have said and are really working
hard to cut out drugs.

"We asked them to put in place a number of measures, they have, and
as a result there has been a substantial number of drug seizures.

"What we really want now is for everyone else to follow suit and make
Blackpool's pubs and bars a drug-free zone."

Mr Shah, who took over the bar four months ago, was delighted with
the success of his campaign against drugs.

He claimed that seeing people he knew taking drugs had caused him to
act and strengthened his stance.

"It's been a team effort and our security team have done very well," he said.

"But I've been in the industry a long time and I've known people who
have had serious issues with drugs and died.

"I've seen the devastation they can cause. We are handing over anyone
caught with drugs to the police."

He said his anti-drugs policy would help rejuvenate the long-running
bar and set an example to other licensees.

"The bar has got a great pedigree but it just needed to be
rejuvenated," he said.

Searches

"The first thing to do was make the place safe for people to come and
part of that strategy was to say a firm 'no' to drugs.

"That means zero tolerance and we have been searching people at the
door, checking the toilets and we have had our security guys fully
trained to sniff out drugs.

"There really is no place for drug takers to hide and we just won't accept it.

"We all need to work together to battle the problem."