Doormen flee newly re-opened Tilbury pub in cops' drugs crackdown

POLICE swarmed pubs in Thurrock and arrested four people on suspicion of possessing illegal substances during a drugs crackdown.

The officers were backed up by riot-trained police and cops drafted in from as far away as Colchester as they carried out the Friday night-long swoop.

They were also backed by two drugs dogs and a licensing officer from Thurrock Council.

And officers from Kent police were on hand with an Ion Track machine which enables them to swab people’s hands and wallets as well as toilets and surfaces, telling them within seconds if there has been any contact with drugs.

The first pub to be hit was The Old Court House in King Street, Stanford-le-Hope. The drugs dogs picked out two men who were arrested on suspicion of possessing illegal drugs.

Both were taken to Basildon police station and strip-searched where one was found to have several wraps of cocaine.

During the evening officers also hit the Inn on Green and the Railway Tavern in Stanford-le-Hope, the Pompadour and Catcracker pubs in Corringham and the George and Dragon, Linford.

They searched all of the pubs, including toilets and beer gardens, and the Ion Track machine found traces of illegal substances in all of them.

The newly re-opened Anchor in Civic Square, Tilbury, was the last pub of the night to be raided.

As officers approached all of the pub’s door staff ran off and once inside the dogs picked out another punter who was arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs.

Inspector Rachel Wood of Tilbury police hailed the operation, which aimed to disrupt drug supply and use in and around Tilbury, Corringham and Stanford, a success.

She said: “We found traces of drugs in all the pubs and made four arrests.

“We hope this operation reassures the public that we will take strong action to prevent the use and sale of drugs in this area.

“We will not tolerate the use or sale of drugs anywhere, particularly in pubs and clubs where we want people to enjoy themselves safely.”

*Two men, aged 25 and 29 and both from Stanford-le-Hope, arrested in The Old Court House on suspicion of possessing drugs were cautioned. A 39-year-old Tilbury man arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs was released on bail until January.