Drugs operation at two night spots

Nearly one in 10 revellers in Spalding last Saturday night were found to have taken drugs as a campaign to kerb increasing town centre violence was launched.

On Saturday night (September 15), Spalding police launched Operation Hammersmith with a night at two establishments, testing for drugs.

In partnership with the landlords of Spalding pub The Punchbowl and night club Loaded, the police spent time swabbing customers’ hands on entry for traces of drugs.

They were joined by Coun Anthony Casson, who sits on the South Holland District Council Licensing Committee.
Insp Gareth Boxall said the most common drug that tested positive was, by far, cocaine, along with positive results for MDMA (ecstasy), amphetamines, ketamine and cannabis.

A street caution was given to one person who had a small quantity of cannabis. Insp Boxall said of the others: “The majority of people we tested had already taken drugs”, so weren’t found with any.

Of the 350 people, Insp Boxall said 9.4 per cent (more than 30 people) tested positive for drugs.

This outing was the first weekend of Operation Hammersmith, which will see increased police presence and targeted, themed operations each weekend between now and Christmas.

“There has been a fairly steady increase in violent crime,” said Insp Boxall, stating that there has been roughly a 30 per cent increase. “32 per cent of violent crime is domestic abuse,” he said. This high figure could, Insp Boxall said, account towards a rise as more people are reporting domestic abuse.

Regarding the police presence, in town Insp Boxall said roughly 25 per cent of all violence occurs in Spalding town centre, with Saturday nights being peak time.

“Previously there had not been a significant amount of violent crime but there is now an increasing amount,” Insp Boxall said.

Insp Boxall added that people found to have been using drugs were referred to addiction charity Addaction in a bid to reduce drug use.