Binky
05-28-2005, 07:18 PM
A SPECIAL drug testing laboratory is to be set up at Winchester police station.
It will handle any drugs confiscated from revellers at the 18-hour Homelands music event being held at the weekend.
The festival, headlined by The Streets, is expected to attract more than 20,000 people to Matterley Bowl, by Cheesefoot Head.
Anyone arrested for carrying strange substances will be held while they are tested by staff in the temporary lab. Four technicians will be on duty.
In the past those arrested have been released on police bail while the drugs are sent away by courier for testing near London.
This year however Sgt Neil Jenkins said people would be held in custody and would appear before magistrates on Monday.
Last year there were 41 arrests at the event, compared to 17 in 2003.
Sgt Jenkins said the police were making every effort to tackle illegal drug taking.
He said 12 sniffer dogs would be at the entrances. The animals, including some from Surrey, Dorset, Wiltshire and Avon and Somerset will also search the festival site prior to the event.
Overall policing the event would involve some 350 officers.
Sgt Jenkins said: "We want to continue the success seen over the last seven years of staging a safe and crime free event.
"We want party-goers to have a good time but we would issue a warning that we will be specifically combating the use or supply of illegal drugs."
Drugs amnesty bins will be provided prior to the festival entrance for people to dispose of anything without risk of prosecution or exclusion.
Some minor roads in the area joining the A31 to the villages of Chilcomb, Easton, Avington and Ovington will be closed from midnight on Friday, to midnight on Sunday. Alternative routes will be signposted throughout this time. Festival traffic will be filtered off the A31 between the Ladycroft and Percy Hobbs roundabouts.
A telephone hotline operated by Winchester City Council has been set up for residents suffering noise pollution. The number is 01962 863493 and will be open from 8am Saturday to 7am Sunday.
Fri, 27 May 2005
Source: Southern Daily Echo (UK)
Copyright: 2005 Southern Daily Echo
Contact: letters@soton-echo.co.uk
Website: http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/
It will handle any drugs confiscated from revellers at the 18-hour Homelands music event being held at the weekend.
The festival, headlined by The Streets, is expected to attract more than 20,000 people to Matterley Bowl, by Cheesefoot Head.
Anyone arrested for carrying strange substances will be held while they are tested by staff in the temporary lab. Four technicians will be on duty.
In the past those arrested have been released on police bail while the drugs are sent away by courier for testing near London.
This year however Sgt Neil Jenkins said people would be held in custody and would appear before magistrates on Monday.
Last year there were 41 arrests at the event, compared to 17 in 2003.
Sgt Jenkins said the police were making every effort to tackle illegal drug taking.
He said 12 sniffer dogs would be at the entrances. The animals, including some from Surrey, Dorset, Wiltshire and Avon and Somerset will also search the festival site prior to the event.
Overall policing the event would involve some 350 officers.
Sgt Jenkins said: "We want to continue the success seen over the last seven years of staging a safe and crime free event.
"We want party-goers to have a good time but we would issue a warning that we will be specifically combating the use or supply of illegal drugs."
Drugs amnesty bins will be provided prior to the festival entrance for people to dispose of anything without risk of prosecution or exclusion.
Some minor roads in the area joining the A31 to the villages of Chilcomb, Easton, Avington and Ovington will be closed from midnight on Friday, to midnight on Sunday. Alternative routes will be signposted throughout this time. Festival traffic will be filtered off the A31 between the Ladycroft and Percy Hobbs roundabouts.
A telephone hotline operated by Winchester City Council has been set up for residents suffering noise pollution. The number is 01962 863493 and will be open from 8am Saturday to 7am Sunday.
Fri, 27 May 2005
Source: Southern Daily Echo (UK)
Copyright: 2005 Southern Daily Echo
Contact: letters@soton-echo.co.uk
Website: http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/