Local police are issuing advice to licensees following a recent initiative designed to identify cocaine misuse at pubs. Officers from the Drylaw Safer Neighbourhood Team, working in partnership with the licensed trade, visited 16 premises in the area over recent weekends and found evidence of cocaine use within the toilets of 12 pubs.
Inspector Mark Rennie of Lothian and Borders Police said: “The initiative was well received and licensees and staff were given advice on basic measures they could use to counter the problem.
“Our intention now is to widen the initiative and also do follow-up visits to premises over the next month to provide staff with information, and support them in their efforts to prevent the misuse of drugs within their premises.
“We will also be distributing posters to raise the awareness of customers of the direct health and personal safety risks associated with alcohol and cocaine misuse.”
Anyone with information as to drug dealing in or around licensed premises can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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