TORIES SEEK POWER TO ORDER OFFENDERS' BODILY SAMPLES

Canwest News Service The Harper government has tabled a bill that
would restore a power for the courts to order offenders to surrender
urine samples or other bodily fluids if they are on probation and
suspected of violating an order not to drink or take drugs.

The ability to demand random samples was struck down three years ago
by the Supreme Court, which invited Parliament to craft legislation
that complies with the Charter of Rights.

Under the revamped regime proposed Friday, judges would be able to
impose drug-and-alcohol prohibition orders that would permit police
and probation officers to request samples when there is reasonable
grounds to believe that an individual has breached a condition of
their release.

Until 2006, police and probation officers routinely demanded bodily
samples from individuals who were on probation or subject to peace
bonds.