Sniffer dog used to hunt for drugs in pubs search at five venues
POLICE carried out searches of five Plymouth pubs as part of their ongoing operation to stamp out drug use.
Although no arrests were made, police said Oscar the sniffer dog gave three indications of drug use.
Officers said the dog showed interest in the floor of the Post Office pub and in a plant pot close to the Joshua Reynolds pub, both in Plympton, as well as in a man at the Plymstock Inn who was searched during the patrol on Friday evening.
The team made up of six police officers, three PCSOs and five special constables targeted pubs all run by landlords and landladies who had backed the operation, although none knew when police officers would be coming.
Led by Sergeant Lindsey Walke, the operation saw police dog Oscar scour pubs with his handler, including the Brook Inn, Plympton, and the Drake's Drum in Plymstock.
As Oscar sniffed customers, full searches were made of toilets while no one was allowed in or out of the pub.
Sergeant Walke said that although there were no hits, the public "loved" to see a police presence and were mainly positive.
Intelligence had been received about one of the pubs targeted, she said, adding the searches sent out a message to any drug dealers that they could not operate with impunity.
She said one of the main bugbears for the police officers involved was the comments they got about the use of taxpayers' money, as the operation looked costly because there were so many policemen and women involved.
18 Comments
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by Rab, Plympton
Friday, September 10 2010, 6:15PM
“And I am ex Police, Army, Navy. Goodnight everyone.”
by Rab, Plympton
Friday, September 10 2010, 6:09PM
“As for so-called Sgt Walke, she is a thug, liar, unprofessional (proven) .. and a disgrace !”
by Rab, Plympton
Friday, September 10 2010, 6:03PM
“I, am not, by any means, an advocate of drugs or the 'Josh' pub. But I like true facts and honesty - which is sadly missing here, courtesy of the Plymouth Herald, again !
The plant pots outside the Josh are the property of Plymouth City Council - enough said I think !”
by Martin, Plymouth
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 12:42AM
“If the police want to put their sniffer dog to good use, walk it in Ham Woods, Whitley Woods and Saltram Woods to name but 3. It's amazing how many drug dealers hide their stashes in these locations.”
by vey upset, plympton
Monday, September 06 2010, 10:33PM
“we are in full support of the police trying to get rid of the drug issues in pubs and especially the dealers! the josh willingly worked with the police on friday evening and will continue to do so in the future.. NO DRUGS WERE FOUND INSIDE OUR PREMISES OR ON ANYBODY INSIDE OUR PREMISES.the ridgeway is a PUBLIC pathway of which is used by hundreds of people a day. since when has the flower pots on the ridgeway been the responsability of the josh? well.......!!!rubbish is thrown in them day and night by those who cant be bothered to use a bin.with reguards to those who are slagging us off, dont realise how hard we work to support a zero tolerance to drug abuse.the josh is a decent pub,the owners have worked very hard to get it were it is today,.if you say you saw this going on why not report it? always quick to condem after arent you!! as for our clientele... let me tell you this, they range from youngsters to the ripe age of a 100,could even be your grandparents!do not bad mouth our clientele, we respect and cherish each and every one of them. drugs will not be tolerated at the josh, you will be reported, you will be banned, and you will be banned from all pubs in plymouth through the pubwatch organisation, you have been warned”