Pub keeps licence after drugs raid

LANDLORD STEPS DOWN OVER WARNING TO CUSTOMERS

- By DANIEL ESSON

A PUB has kept its licence after a barmaid was overheard warning customers to ditch drugs moments before police arrived with sniffer dogs.

The landlord of Sandgate’s Providence Inne has had to step down due to the incident, and his wife has taken over, insisting they “won't take any nonsense”.

Undercover officers were already inside the pub when they heard the female staff member issue a warning to punters, during a covert operation targeting drug use in pubs and bars on March 7 this year.

In response, Kent Police submitted a request to review the pub's licence to Folkestone and Hythe District Council.

At a meeting of the authority's licensing sub-committee on Monday, June 2, Kent Police licensing officer PC Alistair Pringle told councillors the force had been out to tackle drug users in pubs.

He stressed that the visit “was not targeted specifically against any one premises”, with officers doing a general sweep of the area.

Undercover officers PC Kerry Duncan and PC Matthew Owen entered the pub and ordered non-alcoholic drinks at about 8.30pm.

PC Duncan sat at a table while PC Owen stepped outside for phone signal.

PC Duncan stated she saw a blonde barmaid, who had served them, approach a group of customers and whisper: “The police are on their way with sniffer dogs, if you have anything on you, you need to leave now.”

She recalled a customer responding “I don’t have anything” before the pub worker moved from group to group issuing similar warnings.