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Cocaine found at 95% of bars and clubs in one London borough
Katharine Barney, Evening Standard09.07.08
Evidence of the growing scale of cocaine being taken in London bars and clubs is revealed today.
Council officials found more than 95 per cent of bars and clubs they tested had traces of the drug.
The first premises was Archangel, a bar and nightclub in Kensington High Street, where officers found evidence of substance abuse in every lavatory in which they carried out tests.
Now dozens of licensed premises in one of London's most affluent areas face having their licences revoked.
The unprecedented exercise by Kensington & Chelsea council found that only premises that had taken extreme measures to get rid of flat surfaces in lavatories were free of the drug.
Initial findings show 38 of the 41 premises tested had traces of cocaine in lavatory cubicles and could have their licence revoked. Three tested negative.
Licensing officers are now warning bar, pub and club managers that they need to work harder to reduce cocaine use.
Scores more face testing this summer including royal favourite Boujis in South Kensington, the Kensington Roof Gardens and celebrity hangout Amika.
Councillor Nicholas Paget-Brown, said the results demonstrated that tough action may be needed. He said: "It is extremely worrying that almost all the premises we tested had traces of cocaine in their lavatory cubicles. We were both disappointed and surprised at the scale of the activity-But the problem is not just confined to Kensington & Chelsea. It is spread across London and shows we have a real problem in society and across the capital."
Officials believe most licence holders are unaware of the scale of drug taking.
Archangel licence holder Mark Burrage said he was unaware of any drug taking on the property.
In May the council and a police team began testing all pubs, bars and clubs in the borough.
The tests produced positive results on lavatory seats, rims and cisterns. The testing involves using chemical wipes on surfaces which turn blue when they in contact with cocaine. The tissues detect traces not visible to the naked eye.
Mr Paget-Brown said: "Cocaine use is illegal, dangerous and far from glamorous. In fact, the most common place where our officers found traces of the drug was the porcelain rim of the lavatory bowl, which goes to show just how sordid drug use can be."
Premises that tested positive for cocaine have been given advice on how to reduce drug use, including smearing Vaseline on flat surfaces, and will be revisited and retested.
If officers still find traces of cocaine, and the licensee has made no effort to minimise or prevent drug use, then the police may apply to the licensing committee to review the licence.
Mr Paget-Brown said: "In the vast majority of cases licensees do not want drug takers in their establishment. Those who have made absolutely no effort to reduce cocaine use may find their licence under review."
Reader views (7)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Nora, in a word, no.
- John, Nunhead
Did anybody expect any other result. Its now time to have a rational debate on the war on drugs. The last 60 years where we have been supposed to be fighting drugs has proved to be an abject and utter failure. Drugs are cheaper and more easily accessible now than at any time. The amount of money wasted on this war is also an out and out scandal. All this had done is make drug dealing so profitable that people are prepared to kill to protect their area. Its high time we looked at legalising the lot and taking criminals out of the equation and regulating them along the same lines as tobacco and alcohol.
- Duncan Walker, Ex Peckham now Samui Thailand
Close all the bars concerned . . . Permanently!
P.S. The owners and licensees will soon get the message.
- Fraser, Telford Park
Increase in cocaine use
Increase in knife crime
Connected?
- Nora, London
"Licence holders unaware", sure they are! More like turn a blind eye as they continue to rake in the dosh. Tiime to put the onus firmly on them to clampdown and control what's happening in their toilets.
- Richard, Duke Fo Leeds, Kingdom of Yorkshire
It is surprising it was not 100% if the evidence of my own eyes and ears in recent years is anything to go by. Maybe the 5% that tested clean just have amazing cleaners!
- Steve, Sidcup, UK.
If you can't keep it out of prisons, how are you going to keep it out of nightclubs?
- Teddy Picker, London
