DRUG SHOCK FOR MP AND POLICE CHIEF

A FORMER Home Office minister and one of Britain's top police officers
had some explaining to do yesterday after they both failed a voluntary
drugs test at a conference.

Tory MP David Maclean and the national secretary of the Police
Superintendents Association, Peter Williams, blamed headache tablets
after equipment detected traces of opiates such as heroin or morphine
in their urine samples.

Mr Maclean said he bought a painkiller containing codeine over the
counter at Boots and took it on Tuesday night, while Mr Williams said
he swallowed a well-known brand of painkiller more than a week ago.

Further tests will be carried out to confirm the exact origin of the
substances. But last night, it was being emphasised that there was
nothing sinister in the discoveries.

Codeine is a substance made from opium, which is used to make
painkillers. The drug test company which carried out the tests
confirmed that its equipment could detect codeine, among other drugs.

Mr Maclean said: "My reaction was "Good Lord how can that be?" and
then one of the experts on the stand asked me had I been taking
codeine painkillers and the answer was Yes. I had taken some the
night before. He said he assumed that was what it was."

The MP' spokesman said he was confident of being vindicated by the
further analysis. Mr Maclean submitted to a urine sample for testing
at the Police Superintendent's Association of England and wales annual
conference. The association is campaigning for compulsory random drug
testing of all officers.

Mr Williams said last night: "The idea of asking people at the
conference to be tested was to prove how practical it is to carry out
such tests in the workplace.

"The tests are very sensitive, which is why they can pick up minute
samples of codeine. We want compulsory random drug testing in the
police service and need to change the regulations for that to be possible."

In June it emerged that all officers will face compulsory random drug
testing under a programme being drawn up by chief constables. More
than 2,000 recruits who join each year will also be screened for
cannabis, cocaine, heroin and other illegal drugs.

Tests are also planned for all officers wishing to join specialised
squads such as firearms units, mobile patrols used for riot control
and high-speed pursuit drivers.

Screenings will be based on urine tests. Serving officers discovered
using drugs could be counselled, sacked or prosecuted. Recruits will
automatically be thrown out.