Town's clubbers face drugs tests

Pub and club-goers in a Worcestershire town are to be tested for drugs with a new £30,000 machine.

The device, which can detect all illegal narcotics including date rape drugs, has been bought by the crime prevention panel in Redditch.

It will enable landlords to analyse swabs taken from customers to catch users before they enter their premises.

The drug-busting machine is being introduced into the town's pubs and clubs this month.

Pc Nigel Payne, Redditch's licensing officer, said even small quantities of drugs can quickly be traced.

"Swabs are taken on a piece of paper from someone's hand, clothing or an area where they have been, like a table or wash basins," he said.

"It is inserted into the machine and within seven seconds it is analysed as to whether drugs are present or not."