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Drugs tests for all police are planned

Jason Bennetto Crime Correspondent
Friday 18 June 1999 23:02 BST
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COMPULSORY DRUG testing should be introduced in the police service with officers facing possible criminal charges if they fail, senior officers said yesterday.

Merseyside Police currently has a drugs screening programme for new recruits and officers working in areas such as firearms, as well as those seeking promotion.

The superintendents executive committee, which represents superintendents in England and Wales, now wants legislation passed to force all officers and support staff to take random drug tests in the future.

Any move towards a compulsory scheme would be controversial and is bound to be opposed by rank and file officers.

Chief constables, staff groups, and the Home Office are currently considering the question of wide-scale drug testing for the police.

Chief Superintendent Peter Gammon, president of the PSA, said legislation to change conditions of service was needed.

He argued: "Whilst there is no evidence of there being a drugs problem within the service, it would be complacent and unrealistic to assume that the service, with over 150,000 members of staff, was totally drugs free.

"We believe the police service should be drugs free and in order to achieve that, greater use of drugs screening should be made."

He added: "At the moment we can only do it on a voluntary basis, but what we'd like to do is make testing compulsory at all levels."

Mr Gammon, who was speaking after a meeting of the PSA Executive Committee in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, said compulsory testing was a long-term aim which would take two or more years to be introduced because of the need for consultation.

It will also take time for legislation to be passed if the proposals are given Home Office support. In the meantime the Association has recommended extending the voluntary screening to all people seeking promotion or a new post.

He said each case of an officer who tested positive for drugs would be treated on its own merits, depending on the amount of drugs taken, or whether they were prescription or illegal substances.

Officers or support staff found to be addicted to hard drugs would be likely to face criminal and disciplinary proceedings that would lead to them losing their jobs.

Mr Gammon said: "They would be treated in the same way as we treat members of the public found in possession of drugs."

The aim of the Merseyside drug-testing programme, which was introduced last November, is to help officers come forward for counselling rather than risking dismissal.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "This is a working party currently considering this issue. There are no plans at the moment and drug testing would not be introduced without consultation at all levels."

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