Police swab for drugs in town centre nightspot

Annabel Williams • Published 5 Mar 2009 08:00 0 Comments

A SECOND town centre bar has had its revellers swabbed for drugs in the police's crackdown on violence.

Officers tested 285 people before letting them into Q Bar in Friar Street, Reading, on Friday night.

The central Reading neighbourhood policing team used a drug itemiser, which tells within four seconds if someone has been in contact with illegal substances, and which ones.

A 20-year-old Sandhurst man was arrested on suspicion of Class A drugs possession.

Another man who gave a high cocaine reading had no drugs on him, but his three friends had low-level readings and all four were turned away.

Central Reading Inspector Keith Stacey said: "I would like to stress to people coming into the town that if they want to have a good time they are more than welcome.

"But if you get involved in violence or drug activity we will take a very hard line and you could find yourself going through the court processes as well as being banned from every pub, bar and club in the town."

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 05 Mar 09

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