A WHISTLE-BLOWING bar owner has claimed cocaine use in Barnsley town centre is worse than it’s ever been and warned users their behaviour will not be tolerated.
The owner, who did not wish to be named, has run an established bar for more than five years and told the Chronicle the town is ‘awash’ with cocaine abuse at peak times on Friday and Saturday nights.
According to figures gathered by the Chronicle, almost 80 people have appeared at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court on a Monday the earliest court sitting following the weekend charged with cocaine possession since January.
“It’s the latest craze and I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say a third of under 25-year-olds are using coke,” the bar owner said.
“Maybe that seems far-fetched, but everyone who runs a bar or a club in the town centre knows that that’s the case.
“This isn’t a new thing but it’s got to the stage where it’s worse than it’s ever been the last 12 months have been constant and I’m speaking out because I’m fed up of having to contend with it as it’s affecting trade.
“Many people come out for a few drinks and they are being put off because of what they are seeing in toilets where people are extremely blasé about their drug use.
“Saturdays remain busy with the older end of the market but Fridays are very much dominated by youngsters, who unfortunately appear to have an issue with cocaine.
“Fighting is a common occurrence and it seems to give users more courage and it’s giving Barnsley a bad reputation.
“I’m hoping that getting the message out spurs other bars and clubs to tighten up their own measures to stop the problem my door staff have already been told there will be a zero tolerance approach to anyone caught with coke.”
Paul McNicholas, who runs Annie Murray’s bar on Market Hill, said cocaine is something licensees are aware of.
“I wouldn’t argue with what’s been said about a lot of under 25s being on coke as it seems to be a drug that’s easily got hold of.”
One thing the police have at their disposal is Operation Streetsafe, a dedicated tool which focuses on improving the night-time economy in Barnsley.
Having had various iterations in the past including Operation Binge and Operation Tandem Streetsafe is implemented by the town centre’s dedicated policing team and focuses on high footfall areas such as Market Hill, Wellington Street and Peel Square due to their high numbers of bars.
Although it is not purely to tackle drug abuse, it’s recently been revised in order to keep the peace between revellers and licensees and as part of that, stop and searches are being implemented on anyone who displays signs that they have taken drugs while on their night out.
“It’s all about preventing the escalation of incidents relating to people in the town centre on a Friday and Saturday night,” said Chief Inspector Chris Foster.
“That includes licensing checks and having a visible presence there as the night progresses.
“Barnsley’s different to places like Sheffield because people move in the usual places so they often start on Market Hill and make their way up to Wellington Street that’s good for us and we know where any incidents could flare up within the space of a couple of hundred yards.
“With regards to cocaine, we do carry out stop and searches and regularly work with bars’ door staff as often the drugs are taken when people are inside a premises.
“If we suspect anyone to be under the influence or in possession, we will search them and if they are caught with drugs on them they will be arrested.
“We can tell if a person is on something they may have white powder on their nose or be fidgety.
“Our officers regularly patrol the known haunts and we have had a really good reaction to Streetsafe. Usually it’s a really good atmosphere but as with everything there’s always a few who don’t like us being nearby.
“Barnsley’s always been a busy centre but the revised plan has allowed us to be better planned on how to deploy our resources in the town centre.”
