IPSWICH club managers have dreamed up an idea to help prevent drinks being spiked.John Hempstead at Chicago Rock Café and Mark Pook from Liquid have joined up with Suffolk Police to devise a 'bottle crowner,' which staff will place on any unattended drink.

By Tracey Sparling

IPSWICH club managers have dreamed up an idea to help prevent drinks being spiked.

John Hempstead at Chicago Rock Café and Mark Pook from Liquid have joined up with Suffolk Police to devise a 'bottle crowner,' which staff will place on any unattended drink.

The news comes after several Star readers recently claimed their drinks must have been spiked, making them act out of character.

Both Luminar Leisure clubs are starting to use the crowners – drinks lids - from the first weekend in November, and the artwork is being made available free of charge to other venues throughout the town.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of the work being done under the

Nightsafe Ipswich scheme, to increase people's safety when visiting the

town at night and deter potential offenders from committing crime.

The club managers are joined by Ipswich's licensing officer Bob Coleman, Inspector Tristan Pepper, Pc Steve Hudson of Nightsafe and Louise Waters of Suffolk Helpline.

Mr Hempstead said: "I've moved down from Preston in Lancashire where we ran a successful anti-spiking campaign, and I got together with Mark on this idea after discussing it at Clubwatch meetings, really to raise awareness about the risks. There have been a few alleged spiking incidents in the town, so we are taking the initiative now.

"This campaign which we have started with Suffolk Police is not intended to create fear or panic in people but to create awareness. It's all too easy

to get carried away on a night out with friends and to forget about issues

like drink spiking. This is our way, along with our strict door policy

measures and our own Dance Safe policy, we can raise awareness of the issue, deter potential spikers and give our customers a safe and enjoyable night out."

Pc Hudson said: "We hope all Clubwatch premises will follow suit."

Weblink:www.nightsafe.co.uk.