Hereford nightclub pledges action on drugs

3:40pm Friday 5th October 2012 in News By Paul Broome

A Hereford nightclub with an “unwanted reputation for drugs misuse” says it has taken significant steps to stop the problem.

The boss of the Jailhouse was brought before a licensing committee this week following more than 40 instances of disorder and drug use at or near the Gaol Street club since January last year.

Matters reached a head in August when three clubbers were found to be under the influence of the illegal drug ketamine.

Police licensing officer Jim Mooney said the venue had gained an “unwanted reputation for drugs misuse” and detailed a long list of offences recorded at the premises over the past 18 months.

But premises licence holder Steven Harrison told the Herefordshire Council’s regulatory sub-committee that he has since changed his door staff supplier and now searches every customer.

He has also hired a drug search dog and will soon replace the designated premises supervisor (DPS).

The change of door team and the increase in searches has, according to the police, seen an increase in drug detection.

Mr Harrison said 48 people had been ejected from the club in the past three weeks, with 22 refused entry.

Mr Mooney said it is “very pleasing Mr Harrison has taken this approach”.

Comments(2)

BeeKee says...
3:58pm Fri 5 Oct 12

what i dont understand is why certain other nightclubs continue to be portrayed as gods gift to the town whilst the only venue in hereford to provide alternative music (aside from the brilliant Mamma Jammas of course) gets slated. it is only because of past stigma that the Jailhouse has this reputation. I bet if you intorduced a "surprise! we are searching everyone in *other generic nightclub in hereford* tonight!" night, they would find a hell of a lot more drugs and probably get a whole lot of abuse. in experience, people that frequent other venues across hereford seem to be a lot more violent, and socially disruptive. when i am woken up at 3am by shouting and fighting it is because of people that have been to other venues. i know this because the jailhouse does not attract the same orange clientele that other venues seem to. unfair and unjust if you ask me- I really hope that this raises awareness of the support that is out there for this club, and not the other way.

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KirstyMc87 says...
4:57pm Fri 5 Oct 12

I wonder how the ratio of violent crimes, petty thefts etc compare on a club-by-club basis in Hereford. I went to play once and was seriously assaulted after already having my brand new purse stolen with £40 in! During the course of that one night I also witnessed two other fights. I got my purse back; it had been discarded by a bin, emptied of cash. Four events in one night and no item on the Agenda for the Sub-Committee to review their licence. I may be generalising a bit here or being bold, but if the police were doing a good job in the first place then illicit chemicals would not be finding their way into such licensed premises in the first place. I agree also with BeeKee about spot checking of other clubs within the area, especially as some recently have been trying to attract crowds from the Jailhouse by putting event nights on aimed at Jailhouse club regulars. Are their door policies so stringent? I think a quick sweep of any of the other clubs in Hereford would soon prove that these measures have been brought about thanks to PC Moody's kneejerk reaction to a small minority, who have ruined things for others.

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