£600 in Covid fines issued and driver arrested after police swoop on Longton Tennis Club car park

Officers were acting on a tip-off from the local community about groups of young men seen gathering in cars at Longton Tennis Club car park at weekends.

The late-night meet-ups had raised the suspicions of residents who told police they had found drug paraphernalia and litter left behind, and expressed concerns about drug driving.

In response, police swooped on the car park in School Lane shortly after 9pm last night, where they encountered a car pulling out with "steamed up windows".

Officers noted a "very strong smell of cannabis" wafting from the car and signalled for the driver to roll down his window. Police said both passengers admitted to "smoking weed" and the driver was then asked to pull over and exit the car.

A roadside drugs test was carried out and the driver tested positive for cannabis, say police. He was then arrested for drug driving.

One of his passengers was also handed a "cannabis warning" - an informal warning issued to adults found in possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use.

In addition, all three men were hit with £200 Covid fines for breaching lockdown restrictions.

Officers said they found no evidence of drug dealing, but said the the three young men - who are not from Longton - but had travelled to to the car park "for the purpose of smoking cannabis".

Full police statement

Community beat manager PC Charlie Davies said: "It had been highlighted through local reports and Lancashire Talking about cars gathering on Longton Tennis Club car park at weekends.

"The complaint was about litter and drugs paraphernalia being left on the car park. There was also concerns about possible drug driving.

"On checking this area a vehicle was stopped just after 9pm pulling out of the car park. There were three young adult males in the steamed up vehicle.

"There was a very strong smell of cannabis and the passengers admitted to smoking weed prior to being stopped.

"A road side drugs test was done on the driver who tested positive for cannabis. All three males were issued with £200 Covid fixed penalty notices.

"One male was also given a cannabis warning. The driver was arrested."

PC Davies later added: "I would just like to add that the three males stopped do not live in Longton.

"They had driven from another area to Longton for the purpose of smoking cannabis. There was no evidence of drug dealing.

"We found a small amount of cannabis on one of the males and that's why he was given the cannabis warning. This is an official warning, not words of advice."