Weapon scanners location

1:10pm Friday 8th August 2008

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THE locations of checkpoints, where drinkers will be scanned by metal detectors before being allowed into town centre bars on Saturday night, have been revealed.

The joint operation between police and PubWatch members is one of many initiatives police and licensees are embracing in a bid to make the town centre safer.

Revellers will be barred from pubs unless they have their hands stamped to show they have been scanned for weapons at the checkpoints where they will be given the opportunity to speak with a police officer.

Inspector Richard Reeves, of Warrington Town Centre NPU, said: Although we are have not had any weapon arrests for a while, what we are trying to do is set the standards for people coming into the town to see we are here and working with the licensees.”

The three checkpoints will each be manned from 10pm to 3am with a police sergeant and 10 officers equipped with metal wands similar to those used for airport security.

They will be located: l On Friars Gate by the side of Wetherspoons l By the pedestrianised area in between Rylands Street and Bridge Street l On Bridge Street by Big Bar A fourth checkpoint will be set up by Synergy, which will be monitored by the nightclub staff with police supervision.

Insp Reeves added: “People keep saying they want to feel safer and want us to do something, so we are.”