SOLIHULL POLICE and West Midlands Dog Unit have joined forces to crackdown on drugs being taken into bars and clubs in the borough last week.
Sniffer dog, Dibley, put his senses to the test and assisted the police as they paroled the streets to catch people smuggling drugs into bars and clubs.
All club-goers were searched on arrival – as well as undergoing the normal procedures – and scanned before they could enter.
The drug operation is part of a regular scheme which is carried out to keep people safe and drugs off the streets.
Seven people were caught in possession of a class A drug and will face prosecution – as well as being banned from local pubs and clubs as part of the borough’s Pubwatch scheme.
A further seven people were also refused entry on suspicion they were under the influence of drugs.
There were reports of drugs abandoned around the town centre after people heard a drug search was in operation.
PC Luke Prescott, officer in charge in the operation said: “We work closely with our bars and clubs.
“This operation was to show support and offer an additional tool to keep the town centre drug free.
“In the last three months one bar has detained eleven people for possession of drugs as a result of having a proactive door policy, undertaking quality searches of customers as part of their entry policy.
“It’s important we support this type of work being undertaken by our clubs and stand alongside our responsible licensees in order that drugs are kept out of the town.
“Solihull has a vibrant night time economy and is remarkably safe.
“However there is a clear link between drug use and violence, keeping drugs out is all part of keeping the town safe”
