Jo Earle helps
demonstrate the ION Track

Have you had drugs in your hands? Thanks to a mobile
scanner, police will know.

Kent's cops have been using the ION Track machine to detect
drugs on people’s hands as they enter pubs and clubs since
2008 -and such has been its success, it could be used in other
forces across the country.

Drugs detected by the machine include heroin, cocaine, ketamine
and other Class A substances.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson has recommended other forces
to invest in the system after three members of the Home
Affairs Select Committee saw it in use.

The committee is looking at the cocaine trade in the UK and how
police forces deal with recreational drug use.

North Kent Drugs Liaison Officer PC Adrian Parsons reckons it’s
well worth having: "We predominately look for Class A drugs on
people’s hands and surfaces. Anywhere that drugs may be present
then the machine will detect it, in minute particles.

"The versatility of these is fantastic. You can literally walk
into a pub or a night club and you can start testing people then
and there without using mains or leads."

There are four such devices in operation in the
county.