A JOINT operation between Bexley police officers and Kent police saw seven bars, clubs and pubs targeted in the latest round of operations to tackle drug use in town centres.

During the operation, four people were arrested, a vehicle was seized for having no insurance and 15 people found to have traces of drugs on their hands were refused entry.

The officers were using state-of-the-art machinery or analyse swabs taken for people hands as they enetered the licensed premises.

The machine can detect the smallest traces of many types of drugs, including cocaine and cannabis.

The resulted indicate a direct contact with a controlled drug, or indirect contact, such as touching a surface already contaminated with drug particles.

Officers also used a Kent police dog.

The premises targeted were the Cross Keys pub and Potion bar in Erith, the One Bell and Bear and Ragged Staff pubs in Crayford, Red Barn pub in Barnehurst, Ivory Lounge pub in Bexleyheath and Air and Breathe nightclub in Dartford and all the checks were done with the co-operation of their managements.

Two people, one at the Red Barn and one at Air and Breathe, were arrested for possession of cocaine and one was arrested at the One Bell, and given a formal warning for possessing cannabis.

Someone was also arrested for being drunk and disorderly.

A man tested positive for drugs at the Ivory Lounge.

He was searched and no drugs were found, but he was refused entry to the pub.

A wrap of cocaine was also found at the Bear and Ragged Staff.

Fifteen people were refused entry to Air and Breathe after they tested positive for traces of drugs.

Four people were dispersed for alcohol-related disorder, two other cannabis warnings were issued and seven opened cans of alcohol were siezed and disposed of.

At the Cross Keys, empty wraps of cocaine were found and later that evening, after the end of the operation, a man was seen taking cocaine and was arrested.

Speaking about the joint operation, Sergeant James Coomber from Erith Safer Neighbourhoods policing team said: “We pooled our resources and technology, to target shared problems.

“We will repeat this operation as part of a focused approach to reduce drug use and associated disorder in our town centres.”