Birmingham's Rainbow Venues to continue using sniffer dogs

Sniffer dogs are to continue being used at The Rainbow Venues in Birmingham due to drug issues.

Reports state the extra security measures, including undercover bouncers, are in place as a result of teenager Dylan Booth passing away after reportedly consuming contaminated drugs at the Digbeth club on New Year's Eve.

Birmingham Mail has obtained a video displaying a number of drugs to have been found by police at Rainbow, but the new licensing conditions are said to have been successful so far this year.

A police officer present at last month's licensing committee said: "I believe each of the interim steps has had a positive effect on the way the venue has operated in 2016.

“Undercover security seems to be having a very positive impact and has led to seven people being subjected to further searches or have been removed from the venue.”

Despite the venue coming under fire for supposedly having only 38 security staff, rather than the intended 78, on duty on New Year's Eve, licensing sub-committee member Barbara Dring has praised Rainbow's work since the license modifications.

“The committee has decided to modify the conditions of The Rainbow venues’ licences, which is entirely appropriate given concerns raised by West Midlands Police regarding serious crime and disorder on December 31, 2015 and January 1, 2016.

“Evidence from West Midlands Police officers revealed the interim steps imposed by this committee on January 14, 2016 have proved successful and were seen to be having a positive impact, in particular tougher search protocols and the use of covert security, at The Rainbow venues."

[Via: Birmingham Mail]

Dave Turner is Mixmag's Digital News Editor, follow him on Twitter here