Drug sniffers
MX: 5 March 2004
by Evonne Barry
Police sniffer dogs will patrol nightclub queues in a bid to prevent clubbers smuggling drugs inside.
Prahran police have requested special dogs to head the campaign.
The pilot program, due to begin in four to six weeks, is part of a broader campaign to combat drug use in the Chapel St area.
Police have been meeting nightclub owners in recent weeks to discuss the drug crackdown.
While it is believed drug-detecting dogs would not be taken inside venues, they would patrol queues outside, as well as Prahran's back streets and car parks.
Police would not identify the clubs or say how many dogs would be used.
"We don't want to tell offenders (that information)," spokesman Kevin Loomes said.
"There's a group of dogs being trained at the moment for various purposes.
"And there has been a request for the use of dogs to assist in detecting drug offenders in the streets."
Industry figures welcome the idea, with nightclub king Brian Goldsmith today applauding any measures taken to curb drug-taking and dealing.
"And idea which frightens people out of taking drugs into clubs is a brilliant idea", Goldsmith, who pioneered the city's nightclub scene by opening Underground three decades ago, said.
"And it wouldn't be a bad idea if clubs had their own sniffer dogs to stand at the door."
But Prahran's commercial traders' association, Streets Ahead, condemned the idea.
"It's not a war zone, it's a tourist area famous for fun, fashion and fine dining", president Jim Pothitos said.
"We want more police presence, not dogs. Sniffer dogs will intimidate those who are innocent of crime."
One nightclub worker back the plan, provided dogs stayed outside.
"Next they will be checking people's wallets and strip-searching them," she said.
