Drug detection machine launched across MK
Milton Keynes police and partners have launched a new machine into the cities’ licensed premises. The machine will be used to detect people contaminated with drugs, to stamp out illegal drugs and make a night out in Milton Keynes safer.
The Itemiser is a trace element machine which detects all prohibited drugs and also the levels of contamination. Clubbers’ hands and personal items such as mobile phones, purses and wallets are swabbed before the Itemiser gives a reading of what drugs they had come into contact with, if any.
The machine was trailed earlier this year in the city and it proved to be very successful. Funding was secured from the partners including:
Community Safety Partnership
Barwatch
Milton Keynes Council
Thames Valley Police
Partnership protocols have been set up with all partners and the Itemiser will be used across the city in all licensed premises. In agreement with the licenses, entry into their premises will only be allowed if people give permission to be tested by the machine.
The machine will be in operation in the immediate future with a zero tolerance attitude to anyone who is found to be contaminated with prohibited drugs. Anyone found to be contaminated will be searched and appropriate action will be taken. Anyone contaminated, but found with no drugs, will be refused entry to the premises; if however they are found in possession they will be arrested.
Lin Poizat, Police Area Licensing officer, said: “The Itemiser is a major advance in technology which we can employ in the fight against illegal drug use.
“It will allow police and partners, in association with barwatch and licensees, to take a robust and zero tolerance regime to anyone contaminated by prohibited drugs.
“The Itemiser will be part of the ongoing Safer Streets campaign and will be used for the foreseeable future, making Milton Keynes a safer place to enjoy a night out.”
via MKDNB
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This is the best way to encrease drunk people so my night out in MK will not be safe at all, fight, bottle glass broken and aggresive people in the street.
Idiots! Stone people are peacefull and never hurt anybody!! When they are going to understand this, I am fed up!
What a sad world we living
Cheers
Rick
i agree!
Interesting, but I’m not convinced it will work. Yes, it will achieve it’s aim at reducing drugs in clubs and bars – as more people will now be drinking.
It will also be successful at reducing the amount of people in clubs and bars, as people will be refused entry if they test positive for drug “contamination” (a word I personally find rather distateful), regardless if they have ever actually taken drugs, or have anything upon themselves. Bearing in mind 98% of banknotes have trace elements of cocaine on them – probably moreso with five pound notes that are stuck in circulation at the moment, this could lead to all sorts of problems.
Most young people will come into contact with drugs, whether they themselves try them or not. Perhaps I am reading the article incorrectly, but it appears that it will be a condition of the licence that these premises drug test their clientelle (and *all* clientelle, imagine the queues to get in!), and refuse entry if they have nothing on them if they test positive.
I can guess that most people will become too scared to go out in Milton Keynes, for fear of being found positive for contaiminents and the consequences, or for fear of being around a higher proportion of drunk people than previously. This device will NOT make the streets a safer place – I suspect the opposite – as alcohol is one of the few drugs that increases aggression.
From a club owner, promoters, or bar landlords point of view, like it or not this *will* reduce the number of people going out, meaning a loss in revenue. While understanding that bar and club owners have an obligation (under penalty of closure) to ensure no drugs are on their premises, I wonder how many will, under the breath, curse this introudction.
I can see more clubbers attending illegal raves/parties, where they can smoke, drink, take drugs (legalities of this aside for a moment) and feel not so “under the thumb” if you will. The NIMBY’s will have a field day.
If not this, then more people will just stay at home where again, they can do what they want.
Drugs will never go away, regardless of how difficult you make it for people. Alochol is a drug like any other, with it’s own pros and cons, it just happens to be one of the legal ones. As a bar-goer and club-goer living in Milton Keynes I look forward to seeing the impact and the implications of this machine.
Despite the apparent lean of this reply, I stress to point out that I am not putting an argument in favour of taking drugs, nor against them. If you wish to take drugs then you must accept they are illegal and the subsequent consequences in taking them. However I do make the point that testing everyone with any “zero tolerance” policy whether they intend taking drugs, or have become “contaminated”, will likely do more harm than good. Time will tell.
lowe that drugs alll the way ! screw ur stupid machines !!!! burn them i say !