The Metropolitan Police have been criticized for a tweeted video describing a recent operation where officers were shown wiping the public on drugs in Shoreditch, London. Britain’s largest police force posted a tweet on the evening of January 2nd that quickly drew criticism from Twitter users who were concerned about the draconian tactics the officers appeared to be using.
Taskforce officials were recently out on drug swabs in Shoreditch as part of a larger operation to make sure the night pub is a safe place for everyone pic.twitter.com/UtMbayPwpt
– Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) January 2, 2022
The text of the tweet read: “Task force officials were recently en route to drug swabs in Shoreditch as part of a larger operation to ensure the night pub is a safe place for everyone.” The tweet also included a Video It showed uniformed officers patrolling the bustling streets of Shoreditch en masse to stop young adult men and wipe their hands.
The tweet met with widespread public criticism. lots who were quick to point out that the force might have more success wiping outside of Westminster. Other stressed that the video had been edited to show a troop of white male officers holding up people who, for the most part, did not appear to be white.
The majority of concerns, however, concerned the legality of the action, with people asking if the police had a right to stop and ask for a swab and what action a refusal could lead to. At the time of the tweet, the media reported that 250 people were voluntarily wiped out and one woman was arrested for possession of a class A drug.
After Leafie contacted the Met for more information about the operation, it emerged that the swab tests weren’t entirely voluntary, but were a prerequisite for entry into either of the two nightclubs that the taskforce had previously contacted.
In an email, the Met Press Office said the Shoreditch operation was part of a broader “week of action,” during which officials would conduct “women’s safety” between Monday 6 December and Sunday 12 December 2021 should support. The additional police activity included “Night inn security patrols, as well as fighting unlicensed minicabs and visiting schools to talk to staff and students ”.
The statement went on to say that “Met officials have come together to work in areas where there has been an increase in incidents of women and girls feeling unsafe or being victims of crimes, and we know it there is an inseparable link ”between Class A drugs and serious crime and violence on the streets of London. Shoreditch was a hotspot for this type of crime. “
Regarding the drug smearings, the Met said, “On that occasion, the police were working with two licensed premises on Curtain Road EC2A with the consent of the licensees and authorized by the Met’s licensing department to perform an operation involving a drug listing device has been used. The machine works just like the one at airports by checking presence on a wiped surface (i.e. the hands). “
Further criticism of the Met arose from the video’s portrayal that members of the public could be randomly wiped off and searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act (2001) if they refuse to give their consent. The Met seemed to acknowledge this confusion by writing in the press release: “Use of the machine was a condition of entry, that condition was agreed with the licensees for that night. Those who refused were not allowed to enter the venues during the night. It was made clear to visitors to the venues that wiping was voluntary.
A refusal did not automatically mean that the person was searched under S23 of the Drug Abuse Act. “
They added, “If someone gave a positive smear and no other reasons for the search were found, they were allowed to continue their night. If other reasons were found, searches were carried out. No personal information was obtained from anyone unless they provided it when stopping / browsing. “
Notable for the lack of the Met’s statement was the detailed explanation of how wiping night owls at the entrance of a nightclub increases public safety, as they claimed in the tweet.
Adam Waugh of Damage Mitigation The bow told us “There is worldwide evidence that drug controls (testing people’s drugs and informing them about their content in health consultations) can reduce drug-related harm in the nighttime pub. Drug controls were in place in the UK shown to reduce the use of drugs with higher risk in the short and long term. Downtown drug control successfully piloted from The Loop, so we are now interested in working with the local police force and other stakeholders to develop drug control in cities across the country. ”