FESTIVE CRACKDOWN ON DRUGS, WEAPONS

Drug users and people who carry weapons are being targeted in a crime
crackdown in three town centres.

Police and council wardens will get tough on criminal activity in
Paisley, Johnstone and Renfrew.

It will see officers checking revellers in pubs and clubs with
cocaine torches and swabs to spot drug use.

The torches work by illuminating the hairs on the inside of the nose
and around the nose area. If cocaine has been taken it shows up bright green.

Hand-held metal detectors will also be deployed to catch people with knives.

Officers can issue fixed penalty notices for offences such as breach
of the peace, drinking alcohol in public places and urinating in public places.

Councillor Brian Lawson, Renfrewshire Council's Community Safety
spokesman, said: "Christmas is a time that everyone should be able to enjoy.

Unfortunately, it is also a time where we see increases in things
such as alcohol and drug misuse, which can lead to anti-social
behaviour, violence and vandalism.

These things are usually caused by the minority but can ruin things
for everyone else."

The campaign is being funded by an ?18,000 grant from the Scottish
Government's Safer Streets fund.

Taxi marshals, funded by Paisley Vision Board, will be in place in
New Street and County Square, Paisley, from 10pm-3am this Friday and
Saturday and also December 23 and 24 December 30 and Hogmanay. Extra
police will also be on the streets and Renfrewshire Wardens Service
will have more people patrolling the town centres until the early hours.

The wardens wear body-mounted CCTV cameras that can be used to
capture video evidence of incidents. They will also be using CCTV vans.

Wardens will also be making late-night clean-ups to remove broken
bottles and other items that could cause potential danger.

Superintendent Jim Baird, of Strathclyde Police, said: "There are
more police on the streets of Renfrewshire than ever before and
violent crime is at its lowest for years.

We will continue to search people in hotspot areas and be as visible
as possible in deterring those intent on violent crime or anti-social
behaviour."