DRIVE BY YARD TO END DRUG ABUSE IN POLICE

Scotland Yard officers will risk dismissal if they test positive for
drugs in a new drive launched today to clean up the force.

Senior Met officers expect that tests will be in use within 18 months,
starting with officers joining specialist squads and recruits.
Eventually they could cover all 26,000 officers and 12,000 support
staff.

As a prelude to full drugs tests, the Yard is launching a campaign
today urging any officer with a drug problem to come forward for
treatment. Officers are told that if they ignore the offer, they could
face severe penalties if tests uncover drug use later.

In the past year the Yard has retired three officers for alcoholism.
In the past two and a half years seven officers have been dismissed
for drug offences. At least six are facing drugs charges.

Commander Andy Hayman, head of the Yard's complaints investigation
bureau and drugs policy group, said the Yard had decided to start its
programme with a supportive policy, then follow that with testing.
Earlier this year the Yard said it would stand by Detective Constable
Colin Goring who admitted he spent pounds 160 a day on cocaine and cannabis.
His addiction became public during a murder trial.

Any officer now found dealing in drugs or in possession of them will
face prosecution. Guidelines being sent to senior officers urge firm
action. Each officer's case will be dealt with individually and
doctors and senior officers will decide whether he or she should
remain on duty.

*Two ethnic community leaders are to become lay inspectors of
constabulary to check on police progress in better race relations and
the investigation of racial attacks. The Home Office will announce
today the appointment of Mike Franklin, a community leader in Brixton,
South London, and Maqsod Ahmad, director of Kirklees race equality
council in West Yorkshire, as assistant inspectors on race issues.