COMBATING DRUGS: A GUIDE FOR LICENSEES
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COMBATING DRUGS:
A GUIDE FOR LICENSEES
Produced by the
Thames Valley Police Licensing Team
contents
page
introduction 3
general advice 4
the problem 4
standards and management style 4
monitoring 5
spotting the dealers 5
signs of drug use 6
legal highs 7
working with the police 7
other preventative measures 7
recognising drugs 8
amphetamines 9
benzodiazepines 10
cannabis 11
cocaine/crack 12
ecstasy/mdma 13
ghb 14
heroin 15
ketamine 16
lsd 17
mephedrone 18
contacts 19
2
introduction
It is the duty of all licensees to create and maintain a safe, secure and relaxing environment for their customers.
Running well managed premises requires continual vigilance, especially where illegal drugs are concerned - most
licensees are unaware of the extent of drug use in their premises.
It is not possible to quantify the extent of drug offending - after all, it is largely a ‘self-inflicted’ crime, and few offenders
would phone the police to report themselves! Therefore, official crime figures tend to reflect police activity, with
offences being identified through police pro-activity or through response to third party reports.
With that in mind, in 2010/11, Thames Valley Police recorded 267 drugs offences in pubs and night-clubs across the
region – that’s 3.7% of all drugs offences - many of which will have been communicated to us through the vigilance
and professional approach of the licensees and their staff.
This information pack has been produced by Thames Valley Police to assist you, the licensee, to spot the tell-tale
signs of possible drugs misuse on your premises and offer advice on how to keep to your premises drug free.
3
general advice the problem So, why should we be concerned? Well, it may be stating the obvious, but the main issue is that drug possession and supply is illegal! Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, heavy penalties can be imposed on those who permit drug- related activities on their premises. The drugs are not necessarily the extent of the criminality either – there are proven links between drug cultures and volumes of other crime such as violence and extortion. Most importantly from a licensee’s perspective, there is the impact upon business. A strong drugs culture damages the reputation of a premise and therefore negatively affects trade. On top of this, there’s a risk of the loss of licence or livelihood, since any drugs problem identified which you have failed to address could lead to review. Should you, as a licensee, receive any convictions relating to allowing drugs- related activities on your premises, you can not only expect a review, but also (because such convictions are classed as relevant offences) jeopardise your personal licence. standards and management style High standards of cleanliness and service are a powerful deterrent to the drugs trade. They show that you care about your premises and will not tolerate illegal activity. Conversely, low standards indicate the “don’t care” management that dealers and users are looking for - uncollected glasses and sloppy service are as good as a written invitation to the drugs trade. High-profile management - being there, knowing your customers, making your presence felt and staying alert - will discourage the drugs trade from your pub. Dealers are not stupid and will not take unnecessary risks. Your staff are your ambassadors. To deter drug dealers and users, they need to maintain your high standards of cleanliness, service and (above all) vigilance at all times. 4
monitoring
Monitor the premises, keeping a watchful eye for signs of drug dealing and use, so that you take appropriate action
early on and prevent a drugs culture developing. Useful tips for effective monitoring include:
Frequent glass-collecting, emptying ashtrays or wiping tables provides “cover” for surveillance
Combine careful monitoring with sociability, get to know customers and make sure they know you
Make regular checks on toilets (ladies and disabled as well), car park and garden
Train staff in unobtrusive monitoring techniques and the signs to look out for
Ensure that staff inform you immediately, but discreetly, if they see or hear anything suspicious
Remember: frequent tidying, high-profile presence and alertness act as very powerful deterrents to both users and
dealers. Equally, however, be aware that some drug (particularly cocaine) users consider their habit to be perfectly
acceptable and would not necessarily be deterred, so constant vigilance as described above is essential.
spotting the dealers
Different dealers may use different approaches to plying their trade in public places, but some of the signs to look out
for include:
A person ‘holding court’, with a succession of visitors, each of whom only stay for a short time
A person making frequent visits to the toilet, garden or car park, followed on each occasion by a different person
People exchanging small packages or cash – often in a secretive manner, but they may also trade quite openly in
an effort to avoid suspicion
Furtive, conspiratorial behaviour – huddling in corners and whispering
Conversation includes frequent references to drugs (slang names)
Remember: avoid stereotyping people – drug dealers can come in all shapes, sizes, genders and appearances…
they will often look perfectly respectable.
5
signs of drug use
There are a number of signs of possible drug use that you can look out for, both in terms of the users themselves and
the general evidence within your premises.
Physical and behavioural responses can vary from drug to drug, but common signs
include those listed below. This does not mean that anyone displaying these
characteristics is definitely under the influence of drugs (you’ll notice similarities with
other conditions) – you would need to consider the overall situation.
Very dilated (large) pupils
Excessive sniffing, dripping nose, watering/red eyes
Sudden severe cold symptoms following a visit to the toilet, garden or car park
White marks or traces of powder around the nostrils
Excessive giggling, laughing at nothing, non-stop talking
Unnaturally dopey, vacant staring, sleep euphoria
Non-stop movement, jiggling about, dancing
Gagging or retching actions
Excessive consumption of soft drinks or water
Sudden, inexplicable tearfulness or fright
Any marked alteration in behaviour following a visit to the toilet, garden or car park
Drug users will often discard various materials after use, including those listed below.
Again, if any of these are found, it does not guarantee that drug use has been present,
although in some cases it is difficult to see what legitimate purpose the materials would
serve in those locations.
Torn up beer mats/cigarette packets/bits of cardboard left on a table
Foam stuffing taken from seats/bits of foam left around
Roaches (home-made filter tips from cannabis cigarettes)
Small packets made of folded paper, card or foil
Empty sweet wrappings left in toilets
Paying with bank notes which are, or have been, tightly rolled
Visible traces of blood or powder on bank notes
Drinking straws left in toilets
Traces of powder on flat surfaces in the toilets – including disabled
Syringes (danger of infection – do not touch with bare hands and beware needles)
Spoons left in toilets
Pieces of burned tinfoil
6
legal highs
Legal highs are substances which produce the same, or similar, effects to drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy, but are
not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act. It is, however, illegal under current medicines legislation to sell, supply
or advertise these substances for “human consumption”. To get around this, sellers refer to them as research
chemicals, plant food, bath crystals or pond cleaner.
This includes ‘Poppers’ - small bottles of liquid chemicals called alkyl nitrites (including Amyl Nitrate) – which are
sniffed straight from the bottle.
working with the police
Thames Valley Police will support all efforts to prevent drug use and dealing in licensed premises. Make no mistake
however, we will take a very hard line with any licensees who tolerate (or even appear to tolerate) illegal substances
on their premises.
It is important that you make the effort to proactively tackle the issue, which you can do by:
asking us for advice (see the final page of this document for our contact information)
attending police briefings
joining your local PubWatch scheme
reporting drugs-related incidents to us
other preventative measures
Drug swabbing initiatives indicate that the majority of drug use on licensed premises occurs in the toilet areas, where
a degree of privacy can be achieved. Often, users are reliant upon flat, level and smooth surfaces being available and
it is here that additional preventative measures can be put in place.
The quickest and easiest way to achieve this is to apply substances to the surfaces that would make it difficult to use
them in drug taking. The best ones to use are cooking oil or Vaseline. Premises have seen drastic reductions in drug
use following implementation of this technique.
Beware: some substances, such as WD40, while effective, can present significant health risks to your customers and
Thames Valley Police recommends that you do not use these.
If you plan to re-furbish your toilet areas, consider ‘designing out’ such flat surfaces by having boxed-in cisterns and
toilet-roll dispensers etc.
7
recognising drugs The information and photos on the following pages have been taken from Talk to Frank (www.talktofrank.com), an independent, government funded website providing drugs information, advice and support. Images are subject to crown copyright and are © Talk to Frank. 8
AMPHETAMINES
Also known as: Speed
Whiz
Amph
Phet
Billy
Sulph
Base
Paste
Dexies
What is it?
There are a range of amphetamines, such as
amphetamine sulphate, dexedrine and
© Talk to Frank
dexamphetamine, which are stimulants that
people take to keep them awake and alert. What does it look like?
What does it do? Normally, amphetamines have the appearance of an
Amphetamines make people feel wide off-white or pinkish powder and can look like small
awake, excited and chatty – it’s popular in
crystals.
clubs because it provides users with the
The ‘base’ form is more pure and looks and feels like a
energy to dance for hours without getting
tired.
pinkish-grey putty.
Crystal Meth is a crystalline form of the drug which is
Risks & Side Effects: particularly powerful, addictive and dangerous.
Weakened immune system; depression;
Prescription amphetamines are usually small white
irritability; anxiety; aggression; paranoia;
pills.
psychosis; inability to sleep; loss of appetite;
health issues associated with needle use.
Under some circumstances - such as
overdose, mixing with alcohol or anti- Look out for…
depressants, or if the user has high blood
pressure or a heart condition – death can Amphetamines can be taken in a number of different
occur.
ways, from ingestion and snorting, to rubbing into the
gums, injecting or smoking.
Penalties
In their powdered form, they are most commonly sold in
Class B (Class A if prepared for injection)
Possession: small wraps of paper.
Up to 5 years imprisonment/unlimited fine
Supply:
Up to 14 years imprisonment/unlimited fine
9
BENZODIAZEPINES
(Tranquillisers)
Also known as: Jellies
Benzos
Eggs
Norries
Rugby balls
Vallies
Moggies
Mazzies
Roofies
Downers
What are they?
Prescription drugs produced to treat anxiety,
depression and insomnia by reducing anxiety © Talk to Frank
and promoting calmness, relaxation and What do they look like?
sleep.
Tranquillisers come as tablets, capsules, injections
What do they do?
or suppositories.
Tranquillisers have a sedative effect by
depressing the nervous system and slowing They’re often used as chill out drugs on the club scene,
the body down. They relieve tension and with some acid, speed or ecstasy users taking them to
anxiety and make the user feel calm and prompt a come down.
relaxed.
Risks & Side Effects:
Look out for…
Highly addictive; accidental overdose if taken
with other depressants (including alcohol);
short term memory loss; some methods of Most commonly ingested in tablet or capsule form,
taking the drugs can lead to serious (even although they can also be injected so associated
fatal) conditions; withdrawal symptoms can paraphernalia may be present.
include pounding headaches, nausea,
anxiety, confusion, panic attacks and fits;
Watch carefully also for them being discretely dropped
increase in sex crimes following drink spiking.
into drinks by others.
Penalties Users may display excessive emotional responses,
Class C tiredness and drowsiness, as well as slurred speech,
Unauthorised Possession: confusion and unsteadiness.
Up to 2 years imprisonment/unlimited fine
Supply:
Up to 14 years imprisonment/unlimited fine
10CANNABIS
Also known as: Marijuana
Pot
Puff
Dope
Draw
Ganja
Grass
Hash
Skunk
Weed
and many others…
What is it? © Talk to Frank
A naturally occurring drug, cannabis is made What does it look like?
from parts of the cannabis plant and is the
most widely used illegal drug in the country.
Cannabis comes in several different forms,
The main active compound is
including herbal matter (dried leaves and flowering
tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.
parts of the plant), a putty-like resin, and oil.
What does it do? Most commonly, cannabis is mixed with tobacco and
Cannabis is both a mild sedative and a mild smoked in a joint or spliff, but it is also taken using
hallucinogen, which affects people differently.
bongs/pipes and mixed in with food such as cakes.
Some feel chilled out, relaxed and happy,
while others can get the giggles and become
talkative. Hunger pangs are common.
Risks & Side Effects:
Paranoia; regular use is associated with an
Look out for…
increased risk of developing psychotic
illnesses (e.g. schizophrenia); risks Hand-rolled cigarettes; large cigarette papers; small
associated with smoking (lung disease etc); plastic bags; a strong, pungent smell.
increased heart rate; reduced fertility;
Users may have dilated pupils, reddened eyes and a
reduced co-ordination.
lack of co-ordination.
Penalties
Class B (Class A if prepared for injection)
Possession:
Up to 5 years imprisonment/unlimited fine
Supply:
Up to 14 years imprisonment/unlimited fine
11COCAINE/CRACK
Also known as: Coke
Charlie
C
White
Percy
Snow
Toot
Rocks (Crack)
Wash (Crack)
Stones (Crack)
Pebbles (Crack)
Base (Crack)
Freebase (Crack)
© Talk to Frank
What is it? What does it look like?
Cocaine and crack are highly addictive
stimulants with powerful but short-lived Cocaine is a white crystalline powder that’s usually
effects. divided into lines on a smooth surface and snorted
up the nose with a rolled up banknote or straw.
What does it do?
Cocaine makes users feel on top of the world,
with effects similar to those given by Crack is a form of cocaine made into small lumps or
amphetamines - only stronger and shorter- rocks (about the size of raisins) which make a cracking
lived. People taking it feel wide awake, noise when burnt. Usually smoked in a pipe, glass tube,
confident and on top of their game. Crack is
plastic bottle or in foil.
particularly powerful and addictive.
Risks & Side Effects:
Highly addictive; increased body temperature
and heart rate; loss of appetite; possible long-
term changes to the nervous system; over-
Look out for…
confidence; depression; lowered libido;
anxiety or paranoia; higher risks when mixed Folded wraps of paper; straws; razor blades; glass
with other drugs/alcohol. pipes; powder residue on smooth, flat surfaces –
particularly in the toilet area (cistern tops etc) – and
Penalties
around nostrils.
Class A
Possession:
Up to 7 years imprisonment/unlimited fine
Supply:
Up to life imprisonment/unlimited fine
12ECSTASY/MDMA
Also known as: E
Pills
Brownies
Mandy
Mitsubishis
Rolexs
Dolphins
XTC
X
What is it?
Synonymous with the rave culture of the early
© Talk to Frank
90s, Ecstasy is a stimulant often taken by
What does it look like?
clubbers to help them stay awake and dance
for hours. Effects kick in after about 30
minutes and then last between 3 and 6 hours Pure Ecstasy (MDMA) is a white crystalline powder,
before a gradual comedown. but it is usually sold on the street in tablet form – in
a variety of different colours and often with pictures
What does it do? or logos stamped into them.
Ecstasy gives an energy buzz which makes
It’s getting more common for ecstasy to be sold in its powdered
users feel alert and alive. Users feel more in
form.
tune with their surroundings and often feel
great love for other people and are chatty
(chats don’t always make sense to others).
Risks & Side Effects:
Dilated pupils; tingling feeling; increased body
temperature and heart rate; anxiety; panic
Look out for…
attacks; over-heating or dehydration; release
of a hormone which prevents urine production
– drinking lots (often done to counter the Small tablets; small plastic bags.
dehydration) can then become dangerous;
paranoia/depression; liver, kidney or heart
problems.
Penalties
Class A
Possession:
Up to 7 years imprisonment/unlimited fine
Supply:
Up to life imprisonment/unlimited fine
13GHB
Also known as: GBH
Liquid Ecstasy
GBL
1,4-BD
What is it?
Gammahydroxybutrate (GHB) is a dangerous
drugs with sedative and anaesthetic effects.
What does it do? © Talk to Frank
GHB produces a feeling of euphoria and can
What does it look like?
reduce your inhibitions and can make you
feel sleepy. It is for this reason that GHB, like Usually an odourless liquid sold in bottles or
Rohypnol (see Benzodiaepines, page ), is capsules, although it can come in a powdered form
used to drug victims of sexual assault
(iGHB).
offences. Effects start after about 10 minutes
to an hour, but can last up to seven hours.
Risks & Side Effects:
Unconsciousness; coma; death; part of the
risk is that there is no way of knowing how
strong each dose is, so it’s impossible for
users to judge how much they are taking; the
Look out for…
risk of harm increases when used in
conjunction with alcohol or other sedatives; Small bottles; people dropping liquid into other peoples
even experienced users are at risk from drinks.
death by intoxication.
Penalties
Class C
Possession:
Up to 2 years imprisonment/unlimited fine
Supply:
Up to 14 years imprisonment/unlimited fine
14HEROIN
Also known as: Brown
Skag
H
Horse
Gear
Smack
Chinese Pink
What is it?
A natural opiate made from morphine
extracted from the opium poppy, heroin is a
© Talk to Frank
very strong painkiller with highly addictive
properties. What does it look like?
What does it do? Heroin, in its purest form (diamorphine), is a white
Heroin slows down body functioning and powder which carries a high risk of death when it is
substantially reduces physical and
mistaken for cocaine and snorted. Generally
psychological pain. It gives a rush or a buzz
though, the range of substances it’s cut with for
initially but can then give users a feeling of
warmth and well-being (small doses) or make illegal use mean that it can be anything from
them sleepy and very relaxed (larger doses). brownish white to brown.
In some cases, it can also appear pink in colour (hence the name
Risks & Side Effects: Chinese Pink).
Highly addictive; overdoses can lead to
respiratory failure induced coma or death;
choking caused by the body’s cough reflex
not working properly; higher risks after a Look out for…
period off the drug (tolerance goes down);
risks associated with using or sharing
Wraps of paper; syringes and needles; blackened tin
needles (e.g. hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS etc).
foil; bent spoons; spent matches; bottle caps;
Penalties tourniquets (belts, ties, string etc).
Class A
Possession:
Up to 7 years imprisonment/unlimited fine
Supply:
Up to life imprisonment/unlimited fine
15KETAMINE
Also known as: Green
K
Special K
Super K
Vitamin K
What is it?
Ketamine is a short-acting but powerful
anaesthetic which depresses the nervous
system and causes a temporary loss of body
sensation, used for operating on humans and © Talk to Frank
animals. It also has powerful hallucinogenic What does it look like?
properties.
Legally produced Ketamine comes in a liquid form
What does it do?
which is usually injected. Illegally produced
Like LSD, Ketamine can cause perceptual
changes or hallucinations as well as reducing
Ketamine usually comes as a grainy white powder
body sensation. The experience can last for which is snorted, although it can also be obtained
up to an hour, but after-effects can be felt for in tablet form.
some hours. It can give the user a floating
feeling as if the mind and body have been
separated.
Risks & Side Effects:
Psychological dependence; physical
incapacity; panic attacks; depression;
Look out for…
suppressed breathing and heart function
(large doses); high blood pressure; high
doses can result in death (inhalation of vomit
Wraps of paper; small vials of liquid, syringes and
etc). needles.
Penalties
Class C
Possession:
Up to 2 years imprisonment/unlimited fine
Supply:
Up to 14 years imprisonment /unlimited fine
16LSD
Also known as: Acid
Flash
L
Lucy
Stars
Tripper
Rainbows
Smilies
Tab
Trips
and many others…
What is it? © Talk to Frank
Derived from a fungus, Lysergic Acid What does it look like?
Diethylamide (LSD) is a hallucinogenic drug
which distorts the user’s view of objects and
LSD can be found as a liquid or as tiny pellets, but
reality. The experience is known as a ‘trip’
as a street drug it is usually sold as small squares
(good or bad) which can take up to 2 hours to
start and then lasts for up to 12 hours, with no of paper with pictures on them.
way of stopping it.
What does it do?
A trip can appear to involve a speeding up
and slowing down of time and movement.
Colour, sound and objects can get distorted Look out for…
and you can experience double vision. Trips
can also heighten the mood you’re already in.
Small squares of paper with pictures on them;
occasional limb trembling and shivering; expressions of
Risks & Side Effects:
Very random, sometimes very frightening fear or anxiety.
effects; panic/terror; flashbacks weeks or
months later; self harm during bad trips.
Penalties
Class A
Possession:
Up to 7 years imprisonment/unlimited fine
Supply:
Up to life imprisonment/unlimited fine
17MEPHEDRONE
Also known as: Meow Meow
Miaow
Meph
MC
MCAT
Bounce
Charge
Drone
White Magic
M-cat
4-MMC
Bubbles
© Talk to Frank
What is it?
What does it look like?
Classified as class B in 2010 (prior to which it
was on the ‘legal high’ list), mephedrone is a
stimulant which belongs to a chemical family Mephedrone is a fine powder which is white, off-
of cathinones – ‘cousins’ of the family of white or yellowish in colour, but it also comes in
amphetamine compounds (see capsule and pill form.
Amphetamines, page ). Although it can be smoked or, in rare cases, injected, it is most
commonly snorted like cocaine or swallowed (‘bombed’) in wraps
What does it do? of paper.
Often described as a mix between
amphetamines, ecstasy and cocaine,
mephedrone produces euphoria, confidence,
alertness, talkativeness and feelings of
Look out for…
empathy.
Folded wraps of paper; straws; razor blades; powder
Risks & Side Effects:
Overstimulated heart and nervous system; residue on smooth, flat surfaces – particularly in the
fits, agitation and hallucinations; anxiety and toilet area (cistern tops etc) – and around nostrils.
paranoia; severe nosebleeds; palpitations;
insomnia; short-term memory loss; vertigo;
sweating and overheating.
Penalties
Class B
Possession:
Up to 5 years imprisonment/unlimited fine
Supply:
Up to 14 years imprisonment/unlimited fine
18contacts
Thames Valley Police Licensing Team
Thames Valley Police Headquarters South,
Oxford Road,
Kidlington,
Oxon
OX5 2NX
licensing@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
101
(Thames Valley Police non-emergency number)
You can also find drugs advice at www.talktofrank.com
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