PUBS are being recruited to wage war against the illegal sale and use of recreational drugs.

A new scheme set up by Bury Police Division's drugs liaison unit has already been adopted by 15 public houses in the town centre of Bury.

And the "Turning a Blind Eye" project is now being expanded to include Radcliffe and, ultimately, the rest of the borough.

The aim is to make licensees and their staffs aware of the nature and extent of the drugs problem they may have to face during their work.

There are discussions on the substances popular in the modern drugs culture and advice on how to identify them.

Pub staff are told of the effects of drugs and the tell-tale signs that give away a user's habit - such as torn cigarette-papers, ripped beer-mats, and distinct smells.

Sergeant Terry Kitson, Bury's divisional drug liaison officer, said: "The basic objective of the 'Turning a Blind Eye' initiative is to raise awareness of drug misuse in pubs and, in particular, of the problem of dealers who push recreational drugs, including cannabis, Ecstasy, and amphetamines."

He said that the borough was no different from towns nationwide when it came to drug-related problems, but it was nowhere near as bad as some inner city areas.

The campaign was designed to show staff that the best course of action was not to 'turn a blind eye'; it would not make the problem disappear.

"On the contrary, it will actually attract undesirables, frighten away genuine customers, generally affect their business, increase the possibility of violence, and put their pub licence at risk," he said.

"We cannot ignore this problem. It must be tackled, and practical knowledge of the effects of drugs and why people use them is the first step."

One in five people in England are thought to take illegal drugs, and last year doctors notified the Home Office of more than 18,000 people who were addicted to notifiable drugs such as heroin and cocaine. An increase in the supply of illegal drugs on the streets, coupled with a relative fall in price over the past ten years, makes them more accessible. Where youngsters experimented with alcohol in the past, they are now turning towards drugs. Pubs are among the most common places where drugs are sold and used.

Only this month the "Turning a Blind Eye" campaign received the praise and backing of the local magistrates' liquor licensing committee, which urged all landlords to take part.

"One of the biggest problem for licensees and their staff is that many do not know what recreational drugs look like," said Sgt Kitson. "We intend to put that right and take samples to pubs as an aid to identification."

The campaign is part of Greater Manchester Police's Operation Jigsaw. This aims to reduce the demand for drugs through education and reduce the supply of drugs through enforcement.

Concluded Sgt Kitson: "The feedback from licensees who have benefited from this service in Bury town centre has been positive and encouraging. I am confident the rest of the borough will also welcome this strategy.

"Don't 'turn a blind eye' in the hope that the problem will go away. It won't. It will most likely encourage drug misuse."

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 states that heavy penalties can be imposed on those who permit certain drug-related activities to take place on their premises.

"Ignorance of the law is no defence," said Sgt Kitson.

Spearheading the Radcliffe campaign are the licensees of the Beer Engine pub in Bolton Street, John and Susan McDermott.

"We don't have a drugs problem at this pub but information currently being passed on by the police will allow us to keep it that way," said Mr McDermott. "We want a clean pub for all our customers."

Radcliffe Township Police Inspector Nigel Bonson added: "The police are responsible for enforcing the law concerning drugs and it is beneficial to us to receive the support of licensees in Radcliffe. Without them, the problems, faced nationally, will only get worse."

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