POLICE have started using a high-tech drug testing machine to detect the controversial drug mephedrone.

Officers carry out tests at up to 60 pubs, bars and clubs a month for a range of drugs.

Mephedrone – known on the street as MCAT or meow meow – was banned in April amid fears about its health effects.

Two teenagers in Oxfordshire needed medical treatment after taking the drug.

Since it was re-classified as an illegal drug, police officers have recalibrated their £30,000 itemiser machine to be able to detect mephedrone on surfaces at venues or on drinkers.

Officers take a swab and feed it into the itemiser, which then scans for any illegal narcotics.

Police licensing officer Tony Cope said officers wanted to ensure there was not a surge in the use of mephedrone – which was sold legally as plant fertiliser – following publicity about it and its reclassification.

So far it had not been a problem, he said.

Mr Cope added: “It depends on the type of venue and event, but it’s mainly cocaine that we find, and at the drum and bass nights, it’s Ketamine.

“We’ve had a couple of hits of mephedrone, but since the ban it doesn’t appear to be that much of a problem.

“We are certainly not picking it up in the pubs and clubs.

“It was a legal high and people were using it as a loophole to take drugs without fear of prosecution.

“Since it’s been banned, people are not tending to take the risk with that drug.”

Officers rate pubs, bars and restaurants on a three point scale: red for a drug problem, amber where high traces of drugs are found, and green for mild traces of drugs.

None of the 2,300 licensed premises in the county are classified as red, but almost all are likely to have mild traces in the toilets and on surfaces around the venue, Mr Cope said.

He added: “We had five premises in Cherwell last year on red and following the advice we gave them, we went back and they were found to be green.

“Drugs will probably be in every premises in the county, whether it’s a village pub, restaurant or very exclusive venue.”

Roberto Losito, manager of the Duke of Cambridge in Little Clarendon Street, Oxford, welcomed the fact officers were now testing for mephedrone.

He said: “Any testing for any drug is a good thing, although I’m not sure if you can stop someone if they’ve taken it.”

Laura Blades, manager of the Cape of Good Hope at The Plain, Oxford, said: “It’s a good idea, but as far as I know we don’t get those type of people.”

  • Mephedrone is a fine white or off-white power which is usually snorted or swallowed.

Users feel alert, confident, euphoric and talkative. The effects last for about an hour.

Since April, possession can lead to up to five years in jail and supplying it can result in up to 14 years in jail and an unlimited fine.

When sold over the Internet, it was often described as a plant food, research chemicals or bath salts, and not for human consumption. It has been identified as a possible contributor to a number of deaths in the UK, with a confirmed case in Sweden.