[420 Girl]

A PUB landlord has launched a crackdown on drugs by introducing random testing of customers at the door.

Stuart Worth has adopted the zero-tolerance approach after taking over the Black Swan pub in New Road, Spalding six weeks ago.

He will use a handheld machine to take swabs of people's hands and test for traces of *edit hard drugs, cannabis.

He hopes that by refusing entry to anyone who tests positive for the illegal substances, he can turn around the pub's previous troubled reputation.

Mr Worth (35) said: "When I took over the pub my aim was to clean it up and prove to the public that it isn't what it used to be.

"A lot of time and money has been spent doing the place up and focusing on getting rid of drugs was a big part of that.

"We'll be doing the tests randomly and it will cost me £300 to hire the machine, so that shows how seriously we are taking this."

As well as introducing random testing for his customers, Mr Worth has refurbished the pub's toilets so there are no flat surfaces for people to use to take cocaine.

He is confident the moves will have a positive effect on the Black Swan's image, but the prospect of random drug testing catching on in Peterborough's bars, pubs and clubs appears remote.

A similar scheme was tested by police at licensed premises in the city last year, and Del Singh, owner of the Park nightclub in Park Road and chairman of Peterborough CentreSafe, said testing was an "invasion of privacy".

He said: "If this man has had problems with drugs in the past then it is admirable he is taking action.

"But I don't think it would be right to impose something like this in Peterborough in a dictatorial fashion. It would be far too draconian.

"At the moment, Peterborough's night-time economy isn't in great shape and this could be another reason for people to choose to stay at home rather than running the risk of being searched and swabbed every time they go out."

Manager of the Brewery Tap in Westgate Jessica Loock said last year's pilot had been far from successful and had deterred people from coming to her pub.

She said: "The trade is suffering enough as it is in the current economic climate, so why would we want to scare people into thinking that drug use is common in Peterborough's night-time economy when it isn't?

"It will put people off coming into the city at night rather than making them feel we are creating a safer environment. I don't think it will benefit anybody."

*some content has been edited


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