An MP has claimed he saw drug taking while attending the Randox Grand National.
Conservative Sir Jake Berry made the allegations during an on-air discussion about the government’s new smoking ban.
Rishi Sunak wants to raise the legal age at which cigarettes can be bought annually to try to phase out the habit. The proposal passed its first vote in parliament on Tuesday despite opposition from members of his own party.
Those included Berry, the MP for Rossendale and Darwen, who outlined his views in an interview with Times Radio. Presenter John Pienaar argued that cigarettes were harmful to those who smoke and wider society.
“How’s that going, John?” said Berry. “I was at the Grand National at Aintree on Saturday and, it has been reported in the newspaper, I saw people walking around snorting cocaine, a Class A drug at one of the most heavily policed events in the United Kingdom.
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“I’m not for one moment suggesting the drug laws are repealed and all drugs made legal, but with the laws we already have they are clearly not enforced even at a huge sporting event with thousands of police officers at it.
“If bans worked I would be more inclined to support them but I think we can show that they don’t work.”
Conservative MP Sir Jake Berry attended Grand National at Aintree (Getty Images)Chief Inspector Iain Wyke of Merseyside Police said: “We work very closely with the Jockey Club in the months before the event and significant planning goes into making sure it is a safe event that can be enjoyed by all attending.
“A range of measures were brought in by the Jockey Club in an effort to prevent the use of illegal drugs on the site.
“After every Grand National Festival we will always review how the event went alongside the Jockey Club and our partners to identify where we can take steps to further ensure the safety of racegoers, in addition to all those measures already taken.
“At this year’s festival there were two arrests related to drug possession on the course, and a further man arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs before entering the racecourse when a quantity of white powder was seized.”
A spokesperson for The Jockey Club said: “Tens of thousands of people enjoyed the three days at Aintree last week while behaving perfectly safely and responsibly.
“Unfortunately, cocaine use is an increasing societal problem, and this is something racing has been working hard to combat, with The Jockey Club taking a zero-tolerance approach to illegal substances across all its racecourses.
“A range of measures were in place at Aintree, including detection dogs, bag searches and pat-downs in operation at all entrances as well as amnesty bins. Anyone found to be attempting to access the site in possession of illegal substances last week was denied entry, given no refund on their ticket purchases and reported to the police.”
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