WELCOME FOR CLUB DRUGS CLAMPDOWN

Police staged a high-profile blitz in the war against drugs in Lichfield
when they tested revellers for cannabis, cocaine and heroin as they entered
nightspots.

The clampdown - in which swabs from people's hands are tested by a machine
for signs of drugs - has been welcomed by revellers and landlords.

A new UKP40,000 machine called an Iontrack can detect substances like
cannabis, cocaine and heroin from a simple swab from the palm of a hand.
Police were in action for Operation Vampire Plus in the city centre on
Saturday night.

They were using the detector to pick out drug users.

Revellers visiting the two most popular venues, Joott and Lloyds No 1, were
asked to put themselves up for testing by the machine.

Police were joined for the evening by Pc Andy Whitehall, who operates the
machine.

At Joott new manager Nick Pennington, who has more than 12 years experience
in the licensing trade, said: "I welcome on board any anti drug policy and
I think it will help clean up the city," he said. He would expect around
600 people to come and go during a Saturday night.

"A few might be a bit hesitant about coming in with the police presence but
I don't think its a bad thing."

Joott, which celebrated its fourth birthday yesterday, currently has the
reputation of being the safest in the city.

Pc Dean Cooper, of the Community Action Team, said: "We see it as the
flagship, the pub to judge other pubs by."

Ian Pepper, a 39-year-old sales manager on a night out, said: "It's a good
idea. Anything that cuts down on drugs has got to be good and I don't
regard it as an infringement of my rights.

"The people who object are going to be those who take drugs and we don't
want to see them around anyway."

Resident Tracey Setchell was also supportive of the initiative. "I think
it's excellent. It's very good to see a police presence too."

Lloyds duty manager Gareth Evans described the scheme as brilliant. "It can
only be good for the city. Nobody wants drugs on their premises and we are
working completely with the police."

Saturday's initiative followed an earlier sweep of city centre pubs with
the machine which revealed that cocaine was becoming the trendy drug among
the wealthy Lichfield residents.