Criteria officers used to determine who to swab members of the public

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.023364

I note you seek access to the following information:

Can you please provide the criteria your officers used to determine who to swab, the number of people swabbed and the number of positive results for each drug tested for?

Oh, and could you also tell me the legal basis on which this operation was carried out - that is, what law allows you to swab whatever people you choose under whatever criteria were used?

And were the people you chose given the opportunity to decline consent?

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

I have broken your request down into sections to them to make it easier to read.

Can you please provide the criteria your officers used to determine who to swab?

This was a condition of entry for two licensed premises working in partnership with the MPS. These conditions were set by the licensee.

The number of people swabbed?

There were 250 individuals swabbed.

The number of positive results for each drug tested for?

Whether the test was positive or negative, or which drug was identified was not recorded.

Could you also tell me the legal basis on which this operation was carried out - that is, what law allows you to swab whatever people you choose under whatever criteria were used?

It was a condition of entry for the venues that were taking part in the operation. These conditions were set by the licensee. No statutory powers were used.

And were the people you chose given the opportunity to decline consent?

As people approached the testing area, the operating officers explained that providing a swab is voluntary, but it is a condition of entering the venue. If a person did refuse to be swabbed, the officers would discuss the situation with that person, advising them again that they would not be allowed into the venue, but no other action would be taken, unless evidence of an offence is disclosed.