Achi news desk-
Scott Allison and Marcus Dick, both 18, died in August last year after visiting the site, and an 18-year-old woman died in January.
SWG3 was warned by the Licensing Board today after Police Scotland reported the drug and search policy was not “fully implemented” on the night of the incident in August.
A Police Scotland representative said the two 18-year-olds, who attended the event separately, were searched upon entry and no drugs were found.
Scott Ellison fell ill after leaving the event and later died at Monklands Hospital. Friends reported to the police that drugs were sold there and “the deceased consumed a quantity of pills that are considered ecstasy”.
Marcus Dick fell ill while leaving the scene and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital where he died. The officer said that “it has not been established where this person acquired drugs, however, a post-mortem examination revealed very high levels of MDMA and cocaine in his system.”
“The man’s friends believed he had taken drugs at the incident,” the police report added.
Board members heard how the accommodation’s drug and search policy was “found to be very detailed and adequate” by Police Scotland, but “does not appear to have been fully followed on the night” of the incident in August.
A police review found “several anomalies that needed tightening” in SWG3’s procedures.
However, he added that they “went above and beyond in many ways.”
The police were told by the management of the place that if customers were found with a “small amount” of drugs and passed an “access test” then they were allowed to enter. The drugs “will be disposed of before them”.
Bob Javaheri, director of operations at SWG3, said the attitude test, which no longer exists, was used with “the hope of effecting change in that person.”
He said an “impressive” 18-year-old boy with a single pill would be confiscated and “knew by security.”
Management also informed them “that there is really no official process for recording drug seizures or how best to dispose of them.”
Officers told staff to start implementing a “zero tolerance approach to people trying to come in with drugs” and make sure they are “properly registered”.
The Licensing Commission instructed SWG3 to “seize, register and store drugs” to the “satisfaction of Police Scotland” and ensure a “zero tolerance policy” is implemented “hand in hand with a harm reduction approach”.
According to the police report, on January 1, referring to the death of the 18-year-old woman, a friend “purchased two bullets from an unknown person inside the premises, which they both took.”
Later, staff noticed that she “didn’t look well” and “were initially advised that the person was hypodiabetic.” They were later told the man “took a pill he believed to be ecstasy.”
After being treated on the spot, the woman was taken to the hospital by ambulance and admitted to intensive care. She died on January 4th.
Police Scotland were not made aware of the incident until that date.
Management believed that an ambulance control would notify the police. The board ruled that in future, if someone is taken by ambulance from the scene to hospital, SWG3 must tell Police Scotland at the time.
Peter Lawson, representing SWG3, said the deaths were an “absolute tragedy” and a “terrible loss”.
According to him, customer safety is “the core of the operational procedures of the place”.
“The recurring theme throughout these reports is the stark fact that young people are taking drugs,” Mr Lawson added.
“And despite implementing a zero-tolerance policy before and after these events, drugs continue to enter the area.”
He said SWG3 had taken “additional security measures to tighten these procedures to prevent entry of drugs”.
Read the following: SWG3 is facing a license review after the deaths of teenagers
It audited its procedures at all events, while bringing in “experts to examine all major operations on site.”
Mr Lawson also said the venue was unable to carry out strip searches to look for drugs.
The venue has launched a ‘Be Sound’ harm reduction campaign, targeting a younger demographic via social media. Mr Lawson said it would “go hand in hand with zero tolerance”.
He concluded: “I implore you not to suspend, change or even revoke this license.
“My clients run a place of national importance, they have made it as safe as possible, but I can assure you that they will continue their efforts to ensure that the welfare of their clients remains at the heart of this operation.”
Drugs were also found by security staff and police during searches of club nights on December 2, February 10, February 17 and March 9. Several people have been charged in relation to these discoveries.
Police have inspected the site 25 times since August 13 and found no problems.
They reported that staff were “cooperative and helpful” and the site has a “robust drug policy which is now fully operational and in place”.
At the discussion on Friday, the board members decided not to suspend or revoke the premises’ license – instead they chose a warning.
A spokesman for Glasgow Licensing Board said: “In circumstances where three young people tragically lost their lives, there were clear reasons for these premises to be subject to a premises inspection hearing.
After reviewing all the information presented at the hearing, the committee deemed it appropriate to give the licensee a written warning.
In accordance with the Licensing Law, the purpose of a review hearing is to ensure that safeguards are in place to prevent future incidents, instead of taking punitive measures.
“From the submissions made by the licensee, steps have already been taken to address the issues raised in this review and the licensee has been warned that it must now fulfill these obligations.”
