NEW SCHEME TO TEST CRIMINALS FOR DRUGS

SUSPECTED criminals arrested for drug or theft offences in the
Capital will be subject to mandatory testing for drugs under a new
pilot scheme launched today.

The two-year trial will give senior police officers the power to
authorise drug testing if they suspect misuse of a Class A drug -
such as heroin, cocaine and ecstasy - has caused or contributed to the offence.

Individuals will then be required to attend an assessment of their
drug misuse, which Scottish ministers today said was designed to help
them address their problem and turn their back on crime. Anyone
refusing the test or assessment will be liable to a criminal charge.

The scheme was today welcomed by council leader Ewan Aitken. SNP
Lothians MSP Kenny MacAskill, the party's justice spokesman, also
welcomed the move but said more police officers were needed to make it work.

Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry said: "Currently around a third of
all recorded crime in Scotland is related to drugs and more than
three-quarters of those sentenced by the courts to a custodial
sentence show signs of drug misuse and drug-related offending.

"We need effective interventions that nip drug-related offending in the bud."