Porthcawl licensing operation welcomed

Operation Judas was a high profile, reassurance initiative aimed at increasing public confidence and sending out the message that South Wales Police does not tolerate the use and supply of controlled drugs within our communities.

As part of the operation police officers set up special drugs testing equipment, known as an Itemiser, at one of the town’s nightclubs and those who wanted to go in were advised that as a condition of entry they may be subject to a drugs test. During the evening almost 100 drug tests were conducted using the Itemiser.

Of these the machine detected traces of a variety of controlled drugs resulting in grounds for a search and two search teams worked throughout the evening and searched around 40 people which resulted in one

These searches resulted in two arrests for possession of Class B drugs.

Porthcawl Acting Neighbourhood Inspector David Williams said: ”The operation was welcomed by the visitors to the nightclub and many of them commented that the operation should be done more regularly. None of those who were asked to be tested refused and we had total cooperation from everyone.

“Operation Judas helped to raise the profile of drug use and supply in the town and I hope it has helped to reassure the public that the use and supply of drugs in Porthcawl is not tolerated.”