Police screen pub's customers for drugs

Police ran an 'ion track' operation at The Ship in Newhaven High Street.

The device tests a swab sample taken from people's hands for traces of cocaine and other drugs.

The pub was chosen at random and carried out with the full support of the manager.

Police said they will be carrying out similar operations at other pubs in the future.

On Friday they screened 40 people before they entered the The Ship.

Seven were found to have a trace detection, meaning they had been in contact with drugs on a surface level.

However, police acknowledge that because, in most cases, the levels were so low, this could have come from drug traces on bank notes or other surfaces.

PC Matt Holt said: 'This is another tool in our armoury to drive drugs out of the town.

'We will be visiting licensed premises across the town to see where drugs have been present and will work with licensees to eradicate the problem.

'The management at The Ship has been very proactive in keeping drugs out of the premises and always report drug finds to the police.'