Police offers doing drug swabs on the streets of Shoreditch

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.022576

I note you seek access to the following information:

On the 2 January the @metpoliceuk Twitter account tweeted a video of police offers doing drug swabs on the streets of Shoreditch.

I would like to know:

What was the wider operation that this was a part of?
On what legal grounds these swabs were carried out?
Were the swabs voluntary and did the participants know?
On what grounds were people selected for swabbing?
How many positive tests were there?
How many negative tests were there?
What substances were detected?
Were people with positive tests arrested?
If so, were they charged with anything

Decision

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

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

What was the wider operation that this was a part of?

It was part of an operation working across the night time economy areas of London.

On what legal grounds these swabs were carried out?

This was a condition of entry for two licensed premises working in partnership with the MPS.

Were the swabs voluntary and did the participants know?

The use of the itemiser is part of the conditions of entry to the licenced premises, which are set by the Licensee. The Police Officers who operate the Itemisers are specialist officers from the Central Licencing Team. As people approach the testing area, the operating officers explain 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.

On what grounds were people selected for swabbing?

This was a condition of entry for the venues involved in the operation.

How many positive tests were there?

There were 250 tests undertaken. Details of positive and negative tests were not recorded.

How many negative tests were there?

See above.

What substances were detected?

Cocaine.

Were people with positive tests arrested?

One person was arrested having given a positive test, but the arrest was made after further investigation, not solely due to the positive drug swab.

If so, were they charged with anything?

The case has yet to reach a charging decision.