subject: Drug Detection Dogs Used In Nsw Bars And Nightclubs [print this page] Popping pills and other illegal drugs is going to be harder with sniffer dogs being used in bars and clubs. As part of a crackdown on the use of illicit substances and disorderly behaviour, the dogs are being used to do random searches both in and out of venues around NSW. So far, one hotel in the south coast has been using the sniffer dogs, but it is predicted many will soon follow.
As reported this week in the Daily Telegraph, the Illawarra Hotel in Wollongong has employed a security firm to carry out random drug dog sweeps. General manager of the Illawarra Hotel, Paul Anzani told reporters at the newspaper the move was for safety reasons. We are proactive in providing a safe environment, he said. Theres no denying in todays world a lot of people are using illicit substances and unfortunately those people can affect other people who are just out for a drink and a dance. It is unknown how many other Sydney bars and nightclubs will be sniffed out, but this isnt a new concept. In 2008, police units in Western Australia used their pups to seek out drug offenders for a short period of time.
This was a test to see if the dogs were affective in helping with the increased drug problems in night spots. Mark Gilbert from the Perth Police Dog Squad told the West Australian newspaper suitable dogs needed to be found for the job. He said police could not use their present five detection dogs because they were taught to seek out illicit drugs actively rather than to just sit down next to a person as a sign that illegal substances had been detected. The trial and proposal was met with much support and Gilbert said it would take a year until a program like this could be properly rolled out.
Clearly that time has now come. More often than not, what happens and works in one bar and club, tends to happen in others. Some patrons like 23-year-old Luke Howard arent bothered by the move. If people are doing the wrong thing, then bad luck for them, said the arts student from Sydney University. Im not really into stuff like that and I really do hate it when others who do that shit screw up a night out for the rest of us. Others disagree. I think its a complete invasion of privacy, said 21-year-old, Jacob Thomas. Why should they have the right to interrogate us in a public place in front of stacks of people; what if then they find we havent actually got anything on us its humiliation right there. 30-year-old, Emily Fisher agrees she wouldnt like sniffer dogs pouncing on her. I think Id find a dog like that coming up to me on a night out pretty scary.
