Free drink-spiking test kits rolled out to Shrewsbury bars

Measures are being rolled out this Christmas to help protect people from drink-spiking on nights out

Police and businesses in Shrewsbury have joined forces to crack down on drink-spiking.

Test strips, which can detect whether GHB, ketamine or numerous other drugs including cocaine have been slipped into a drink, are being rolled out to the town's venues for free.

The project, started by a local firm, has received funding from the West Mercia police and crime commissioner.

Undercover officers are being deployed this Christmas to tackle the issue.

The test patch changes colour when it detects the presence of a drug

The test strips are activated within minutes and a drink containing GHB will turn a pink patch blue while drinks containing ketamine turn a yellow patch orange.

An app will then scan the results and anonymously record potential incidents.

The scheme has been welcomed by customers of the town's night time venues, including Beth Morris who suspects her drink was spiked three years ago.

She said: "I hadn't had much to drink and then suddenly I was paralytic on the floor screaming.

"The street pastors around Shrewsbury are great and they helped me."

Her friend Sarah Pacaud added: "It's definitely more of a worry now when I go out compared to when I was younger."

Vince Dovey, the managing director of 1st and Bowery, has rolled out the scheme to 15 venues across the town

Vince Dovey, of 1st and Bowery, a Shropshire-based development company specialising in projects with a focus on welfare, said: "We're trying to make Shrewsbury an inhospitable environment for anyone who may be tempted to do spiking or any other offence."

West Mercia Police said 111 incidents of suspected drink and needle spiking were reported across Shropshire in the last two years.

Across the wider area covered by the force, there were 372 incidents reported, which is in line with national average.

Ch Insp Tracy Ryan of West Mercia Police said officers would be out on patrol

Ch Insp Tracy Ryan said the test kits were a part of a series of measures that included a new operation to tackle predatory behaviour.

She said: "We've recently trained some behavioural detection officers and they will be in the town on foot either in uniform or plain clothes looking out for people who are vulnerable in the night time economy and making sure they have a safe night out."