A Witney firm is gearing up to fight the growing menace of drugs in the workplace, writes Sarah Parker

The growing problem of substance abuse in the world of business and commerce is being tackled by a drug-busting security firm based near Witney.

Grosvenor International Services, which uses 30 specially trained dogs to search more than 230 nightclubs across the UK, is moving its operation into the commercial sector and plans to offer its specialist services to the business community and schools.

Managing director Mr John Franklin-Webb said: We operate mainly in the nightclub industry, but we intend to broaden our base because the people on whom we find drugs in nightclubs work or go to school somewhere.

Employers are keen to take responsibility for that because they can be fined for endangering staff in the workplace.

He added: We aim to offer a service that enables us to enter businesses throughout the year to carry out a drugs audit. We put dogs into a building and look for signs of drug abuse.

We would then report our findings for the management to take the appropriate action.

He said the report could encourage employers to screen all employees as they enter the building. He added: It is important that the use of prohibited substances is written into employees' contracts.

A similar process could be implemented for searching schools.

Mr Franklin-Webb said: A recent case featured a 12-year-old boy who was dealing drugs. Nobody is immune from the scourge of drugs - it touches every-one's life in one way or another.

At present, we are looking at the possibility of searching schools. The matter has to be handled sensitively, and one option is to visit schools with a search dog and talk to pupils about the issues.

The company has already taken on a client liaison officer to work with new customers.

Mr Franklin-Webb explained: The object of the exercise is to get rid of drugs - not jobs. We are one of only three organisations active in the country - probably the most active.

We have 30 dogs and ten handlers and are region-alising our operation so that we have fully employed team members around the United Kingdom.

Grosvenor International Services may be contacted on 0700 900 8737 or by writing to PO Box 236, Kidlington, Oxford

OX5 3XS.

From In Business magazine, The Oxford Times, November 18, 2000