FURY AT RAIL DRUGS CHECK

A SNIFFER dog at Piccadilly railway station is helping police check
passengers for drugs in the run-up to the Commonwealth Games.

It is the first time in the region such random searches have been
carried out at one of the main gateways to the city - and it has
provoked anger among civil liberties groups.

Mark Littlewood, director of civil rights organisation Liberty, said
the organisation was against the use of the drugs dog in this way.

''To subject individuals to what we consider to be intrusive testing
like this is of concern to us,'' he said. ''It should only be used
when police have reason to suspect a shipment of drugs has been
brought in or a group of individuals are carrying illegal
substances.''

The two-year-old Labrador, named Skye, was originally brought in by
British Transport last year to carry out undercover operations.

Now uniformed officers are openly stopping passengers as they get off
trains at Piccadilly to allow Skye to check them for illegal
substances.

During two recent six-hour operations at Piccadilly, more than 60
people were found to have been carrying or had recent contact with
drugs.

Among them was a known cocaine dealer wanted by police and a man
carrying a chunk of cannabis resin and a large knife. DC David Howell
of the British Transport Police intelligence unit said: ''This is
part of an ongoing initiative, building towards the Commonwealth
Games in Manchester, but it is also part of our drive to promote a
safer travel on the railway.

''Using Skye enables us to reduce the level of crime by driving
offenders away from the station and identifying those who are
involved in the drugs scene.''

Police know that drug users and dealers are often those also involved
in thefts of luggage and valuables from the station. During an
average day, they will be expected to deal with at least two
incidents of thefts.

But since launching the high-profile operation with Skye, who was
trained by Home Office experts, thefts at the station have dropped
dramatically.

During the most recent operation this week, most members of the
public greeted the police dog with a smile rather than apprehension
and showed little concern at what was happening as they were stopped
as they left platform 13.

Police say this is because unlike a normal police dog, Skye does not
bark or show any signs of aggression, but remains passive.

The only signal that she gives when she has found any drugs is to
linger over the spot where they are concealed.

James O'Connor, 45, a barman from Ireland, was one of those stopped
as he got off the train.

He said: ''It doesn't bother me being stopped by the dog handler, but
I am not afraid of dogs.

''I agree that they should have the patrols.

''They don't have anything like this in Dublin and anyone can walk
through the place. Perhaps they should have them.''

About 50,000 people a day use Piccadilly train station and the number
is set to rise significantly, with a predicted 20 per cent increase
in rail passengers.

Supt Tom Baker said Transport Police were determined to ensure the
rising station population does not provide increased pickings for
criminals.

He said: ''We will not have people coming onto the railway station
and bringing their criminality with them. We intend to make our
railways safe for law-abiding people. Using Skye is just one weapon
in our arsenal.'