GANGS SELL DRUGS IN CLUBS

GANG members are working as door staff at dance clubs to make sure that
they dominate the drug-dealing inside, a Office report says. Club owners
and honest doormen face intimidation and violence if they get in the way.

The report was issued as local authorities were being given greater powers
to curb suspect clubs. The Home Office announced that a new right for
authorities to order the immediate closure of clubs where police have found
evidence of drugs or dealing would take effect from May. Some door staff
are serving as drug wholesalers, suppling the substances sold by a network
of people on the dancefloor. Others are intimidated or bribed to turn a
blind eye. Only a minority of door staff are involved, says the study,
Clubs, Drugs and Doormen, which highlights activities in Liverpool and
Newcastle upon Tyne.

In Liverpool, the police found that 49 door supervisors were of interest to
them: nine had previous convictions for drugs; 28 had convictions for
violence; 27 had charges pending, including three attempted murders and two
murders. A registered security firm took control of a large section of door
supervision through bribery, intimidation and attacks on those who refused
to leave. Once in control, the criminals behind the firm moved to dominate
drug dealing in premises they were supposed to be protecting.

Any licensee who refused to accept their services was threatened with
disturbances.