Spiking is targeted
Two campaigns aimed at stopping drink spiking in the run-up to the busy Christmas period were launched this month. Surrey police are sending posters and glass markers featuring the slogan "Don't give Spike the chance look after your drink" to licensees throughout the county as part of its "Watch Your Drinks" campaign. Tests kits allowing hosts to check if the drinks have been spiked have also been sent. West Surrey Supt Kevin Deanus said: "Rohypnol [a date rape' drug] has been seized in Guildford, so it's important to make people aware of the dangers. "By raising awareness amongst pub and club-goers, we hope to stamp out any such incidents from taking place." Meanwhile posters and leaflets have also been going up at pubs and clubs in Sunderland, giving advice on how to avoid becoming a spiking victim and what to do if customers suspect they have been targeted. There have been about 12 reports of drinks being spiked in the Sunderland region in the past year, but no arrests have been made. l Spike-proof RTD to fight date rape p10 Drink-drive contrasts The number of drink-drive cases in South Yorkshire has fallen to 4.3% while around 10% of drivers tested in Leicestershire were over the limit. South Yorkshire Police breath-tested 441 drivers last weekend and found 4.3% over the limit. Tests in June found the rate to be nearly 8%. The Doncaster area showed particular improvement. Just over 2% of drivers tested had too much alcohol in their blood compared to 17% in June. But 14 of the 147 drivers tested by officers in Leicestershire were over the limit. This compares to 7.6% during the last campaign over the August bank holiday. PC John Budulis from Leicestershire Police said they are "hugely disappointed" with the results. Hero hostwins praise A licensee was commended for catching a youth who stole more than £1,700-worth of mobile phones from a Kent shop. Craig Rutherford, 19, from Wesley Drive in Egham, Surrey, admitted stealing from the Mobile Phone Centre in Sevenoaks when he appeared before town magistrates on Tuesday. Rutherford and three or four friends entered the store just as manager Deborah Dix was shutting up, the court heard. She asked them to leave but they refused. When Dix went for help, Rutherford grabbed seven handsets from the cabinet and fled. The manager then rang Paul Henderson, licensee of the Black Boy in the town, who chased the youths across a car park and down a road, before catching them. Magistrate Dr Philip Walker said Henderson's actions were "very public spirited". Rutherford, who originally denied stealing from the shopbut changed his plea, was given 120 hours' community service and ordered to pay £400 compensation. Reward to net vandals The licensee of a Cotswold pub is offering a £1,000 reward for information to catch vandals who keep damaging his pub's signs. Trevor Warren of the Frogmill in Andoversford has had £5,000-worth of damage to his five signs in recent weeks. The signs, which were handmade, were found by pub staff in a nearby ditch. Vandals also smashed lights in the grounds. Police check trade safety Random safety inspections in pubs and clubs are being carried out by police in the Potteries in a bid to cut alcohol-fuelled disorder as the festive period approaches. Licensing officers will ask for a tour of the venues, allowing them to check the condition of toilets, access to fire escapes, amount of staff, drug policies and treatment of customers. The scheme started at the weekend and lasts for two months. It aims to cut violence, under-age drinking and drug use. Licensing officer Diane Hoyle said: "We will be turning up unannounced with the aim of making sure that [venues] are safe and comfortable for people to visit. "We'll visit at busy times so we can get a true picture of how the businesses operate. If certain aspects don't comply with our standards, managers will be advised to make changes.
