Drugs Raid Part of Ongoing Police Campaign • Police Vow to Carry on Raiding • Hundreds Ejected from 'Dirty Disco'
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Drugs raid part of ongoing police campaign • Police vow to carry on raiding • Hundreds ejected from 'Dirty Disco' By Charlotte Griffiths bid to crack down on the city's drug spectacle unfolded. He said; "I was at market. More than 30 arrests have been the front of the queue for about 20 made since the raids began. minutes before it happened. We had Superintendent Peter Nicholson from been getting pretty irked with the Police have said last weekend's drugs City and Hotheck Police is spearheading bouncers because we couldn't raid on `Dirty Disco' was part of a the campaign. He said: This has been understand why they had just stopped campaign against night club drug dealers an intense campaign which will have hit letting people in; he kept telling me to and that other venues will be hit in the the night time economy hard. II does not 'wait a minute'. Now I realise that he coming months. make us popular with many but that is a was doing me a favour: he saved me Four people were arrested and taken risk we have to lake in ensuring their paying to get in for nothing." Not into eustody in the early hours of last safety. The information which led to this everyone was so lucky: Charlie Smith, a Sunday morning as hundreds of students operation came to us through concerned fashion student and part time night club were carried out of popular night dub members of the public and it is our duty dancer, had paid to get in half an hour Northern Light during an organised and obligation to fully investigate their before; "I paid 12 pounds and no refund police drugs raid. concerns. Their information is then was ever considered," he said. "1 paid More than 100 policemen and a drug matched with Police intelligence which about three quid a song and then I had to sniffer dog stormed the club just before led to the situation we are dealing with. go somewhere else with hardly any 1 a.m. and removed dozens of stunned 'The majority of licensees are right money left. What was even more clubbers who were suspected of carrying behind us in our action as they are keen annoying was that, afterwards, people drugs. Officers estimated that there were to ensure that Leeds maintains its behaved as if they knew at would about 1,000 people present at the reputation for an excellent night time happen: in the next bar I went to. the monthly 'Dirty Disco' event, where they economy. Taking drugs and the dealers barman said 'so it did happen. did it?'. I found discarded cocaine. ecstasy tablets off the streets assists in maintaining the wish I had been in the know before: it and other class A drugs on the floor once reputation." would have saved me time and money." the club had been emptied. Witnesses to But a spokesperson for 'Dirty Disco' Clabbers were allowed back in when the raid have since told Leeds Student said they weren't pleased with their the venue reopened at 2 am. But, despite that the floor of the club looked to be night being interrupted, saying: "h was a mass text message sent out by the club. 'carpeted with class As' after the police just a PR stunt for the police. Ii was all many were still confused as to whether entered_ West Yorkshire Police have over the news and radio; it makes them they were entitled to a refund. Vicky said the four people who were taken into look good, but it won't work as a lvanova, a philosophy finalist, went back , custody are currently awaiting interview. method of preventing drug use, The to the club; she said: "I went back to Officers sprayed CO2 gas similar to bouncers didn't know that it would 'Dirty Disco' when 1 received the text. I that found in fire extinguishers to happen: neither did the staff. Everyone thought it would be free but i had to pay confuse the shocked crowd and prevent was talking about it beforehand, but only to get in, even though I had been in attempts to escape. Clabbers were because it had happened elsewhere before. It was, surprisingly. still really i removed within minutes by police before, It was just our bad tuck; it. could busy but. luckily. there was no queue." . Nicer wearing body amour. A video have been any other club." DI foe', who co-runs 'Dirty Disco' ' f the raid has been loaded on to the But many of those who have spoken and 'Very Very Very Wrong Indeed'. ouTuhe web site. to Leeds Student said there were was glad that the police raid did not Dirty Disco'. the hugely popular rumours about a possible raid before the discourage club hers. monthly event in Northern Light, is the night had begun. Those in the queue He said: "We were gutted that latest club night to be targeted in a string when the raid kicked off say they happened. but we were pleased that of drugs raids. Fiber. Space, Mission and thought bouncers were holding people people returned. We let people in for Glasshouse have also been raided in the back from getting in because door staff fret for the first hour or so after the club past three weeks, prompting speculation had prior knowledge of the raid. reopened at two. We gave out Free boiler ONE SMALL. STEP: Dr Piers Sellers, a former student himself, is to be that the police campaign against the Noah May. an English literature suits and masks to people that came given Al honorary degree by the University. Find out who else is up for an Leeds drug scene will continue, hitting finalist. had made his way to the front of back, then the Beat Monkeys came hack award on page 3 other venues over the coming weeks in a the queue and had a clear view as the on the decks and played a peat set." PHOTO_ UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS Friday, February 9, 2007 2 Leeds Student www.leedsstudent.org.uk News your vote in an instant, and make them uffering from democracy The Complete First Season' DVD checked the rankings against a league extremely red-faced in the process. fatigue? Think Union politics is a which Aunty Bend shoved into your table of who had the most Facebook So get prepared for campaign mad. trifle dull to get tied up in? Per- stocking for Christmas. friends. The election victors, unsurpirs- 5 ness that will last for, pretty much. the haps you're a disaffected soul who's But you'd he missing out on a whole ingly for some cynics, were also top of entirety of next week. been shafted by those who arc meant to lot of fun. You'll never believe that, but the Facetxxik table. Ah democracy. is ld Take whatever precautions you need represent you? read on. But don't let that put you off - ie f to cope with the persistent campaigning If any of these apply, the coming The whole of yesterday. for a embrace the elections and try to make ho and badgering, but whatever you do. week could he something of a night- panapoly of potential candidates. was an informed choice. don't forget to vote. mare: it's election time again. 22 candi- spent pondering whether to run for a The whole process will be an experi- Sc w dates will he begging, stealing and prestigious LUU Executive position. ence to remember whether you love or Exercise your right as part of the hate politics. It's even a great chance to Union, particularly if you are a return- Ben sweating for your vote to make them And over the weekend they'll he one of the Student Executive. printing a sea of flyers, leaflets and i- gain a sense of power over another indi- ing student next year, as the candidates By One reaction to this week-long orgy shirts all saying broadly the same thing: vidual as every candidate will be des- will he serving you from June. Turnout was at it highest ever after the referen- of democracy would he to bury your "Vote for me". perate for your priceless vote. Watch as face into your Mid-Eastern scarf and And you know what: it could all he they become putty in your hand, and dum ballot, so aim to better that turnout shuffle those Ugg hoots a little faster to in vain. The London School of Eco- don't he afraid to ask them "Why this time around, it'll only take a class. Or even-stop going out the house nomics' newspaper, The Beaver (stop should I vote for you?" You may catch minute. altogether and watch 'Deal Or No Deal: chuckling) after their Union elections. them off-guard and that could decide I promise. International panel welcomes local environment expert GLOBAL By Rachel Hunter Speaking to Leeds Student, Forster the effects of aircraft, which are actually "We also got about 30 or 40 said: "We were trying to understand all quite small. However. aircraft are thousand comments. both from By Rachel Hunter of the factors involved in climate predicted to have a bigger effect us time academics and the world governments. and we had to reply to each one. Tile•, An expert from the University of Leeds change, such as rising levels of carbon goes on. was in Pans last week to take part in the dioxide. Despite all the measures being go into the public archive so that people Over 2.000 students at the University can see that we take comments on launch of u landmark report from a taken to reduce CO2 Missions.