Some people were outraged by a front-page picture this week of youngsters forced to the floor during a police raid on city clubs at the weekend. Some felt differently, that if strong-arm tactics are required to combat the scourge of drugs and under-age children in these popular clubs, then the end justifies the means.

While we wholeheartedly support action against those who push drugs and encourage impressionable youngsters to experiment with substances that ruin lives and destroy families, we draw a line against the use of unnecessary force by the authorities. Once again we question the use of such strong-arm methods in what is no more than a routine operation involving mainly innocents in the pursuit of pleasure.

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