DRUGS TESTS FOR ALL POLICE ARE PLANNED

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."