Newark’s neighbourhood policing team joined licensing staff and community protection officer to warn on drugs and alcohol use in Newark town centre

Anyone who mixes cocaine as a leveller to alcohol on a night out runs the risk of serious harm to their health, even death, or a criminal conviction that could ruin their life.

That was the message to revellers from police and council staff during an educational drive in Newark town centre on Saturday night that was a Nottinghamshire-first.

Newark’s neighbourhood policing team joined licensing staff and community protection officers from the district council to speak to revellers about the use of cocaine and mixing it with alcohol, which can be bring the risk of heart attacks as well as kidney and liver failures, black outs and the likelihood of becoming violent.

The awareness campaign involved speaking to people about those dangers and making cocaine usage no longer acceptable as part of a night out.

It was in response to an increased use of cocaine in the Newark nightlife scene.

The drive has been funded by money from the Safer Streets initiative, obtained by the office of the police and crime commissioner, Caroline Henry, who was on hand to see the work in progress.

The funding has specifically come from a pot that seeks to make women and girls feel safer, as cocaine use can often lead to domestic violence, either during a night out or when the user returns home.

There was an awareness stall in the Market Place on Saturday night, people were surveyed on the street and handed information to take away with them, took part in a questionnaire, and pubs were visited.

Those members of the public who engaged appeared to appreciate what they were being told.

Sergeant Rob Harrison said: “We want to raise awareness that cocaine is not an acceptable part of a night out.

“Schools educate about the dangers of injecting heroin but there are no lessons on cocaine or that mixing it with alcohol is a deadly combination.

“Cocaethylene can have a massive impact on the body.”

Safer Streets project officer Eleanor Smalley said: “It’s about getting the message out there that mixing cocaine and alcohol has real risks attached.

“If you are a teacher, for instance, take cocaine and alcohol, black out, get in a fight or attack your spouse and spend the night in the cells, your career is over and, day by day, you may not be that person at all.”

Mrs Henry said: “This is a pioneering partnership centred on making people think and in crime prevention.

“It’s about education and informing choice and, if successful, I would want to see it rolled out across Nottinghamshire.”