DRINK AND DRUG TESTS ON POLICE 'A WASTE OF MONEY'

YORKSHIRE police forces are spending a six-figure sum each year
testing officers for alcohol and drug abuse even though there is no
evidence of a problem.

Not one of the region's 12,000 officers has failed any of the random
tests, which were introduced early last summer, even though the
alcohol limit is one-third of that for driving.

But the four forces are locked into the regime indefinitely, with
costs expected to top UKP1,000 for each officer checked in one area,
sparking criticism that it is a waste of money.

The Home Office is now facing a call to review the scheme to check it
is delivering value for money. There is also fierce criticism from the
Police Federation, with a claim the policy is a deliberate Government
tactic to under-mine the service's credibility.

With officers already at odds with Ministers over their pay rise, any
extra spending on testing is likely to be controversial.

The West and South Yorkshire forces have not yet set their budgets for
testing next year but if they follow this year's level the total in
the region is likely to be about UKP220,000.

Humberside is allocating the most resources, despite being a small
force, with plans to test only 80 staff, using a budget of almost
UKP93,000 - more than UKP1,000 for each anticipated test.

That contrasts with West Yorkshire, where senior officers this year
have managed to test 30 officers a month from an annual budget of UKP30,000.

Liberal Democrat leader and Sheffield Hallam MP Nick Clegg is calling
for the scheme to be reviewed.

"At a time when police budgets are under so much pressure it is vital
money is spent sensibly so that police officers can be out on the
streets cutting crime and keeping us all safe.

"It is extremely important that police are free from the influence of
alcohol and drugs but testing should be proportionate and flexible."

South Yorkshire Police Federation spokesman Insp Bob Pitt accused the
Government of "a consistent attempt to undermine the credibility of
police" in the eyes of the public.

"It is a rather alarming waste of money, particularly when we are
looking towards having to reduce numbers of police over the next
couple of years.

"Forty million pounds is being saved by not backdating our pay award;
some of that will be put into drug testing when we know we are not
taking drugs.

"There is no evidence to suggest individuals are taking drugs and we
have always had the opportunity to report any concerns, either through
Crimestoppers or our professional standards department."

The Home Office has distanced itself from the situation, telling the
Yorkshire Post it introduced legislation to allow the tests but left
the decisions on how to proceed to individual forces, which "have
discretion to determine the scale of testing, taking into account the
extent of the risk".

However, a circular on the topic states a previous Home Secretary had
approved a recommendation that "anational policy be introduced for
testing" police officers and recruits.

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police, which faces financial
problems next year because of a change in the way Government grants
are calculated, said: "It is a policy decision taken by the Home
Office. It is compulsory."

Humberside Deputy Chief Constable David Griffin defen-ded the testing
policy and said: "It is important that the public can have full
confidence in their local police and we see this as an important step
to achieve it."

He was pleased "the results indicate our police officers do not seem
to have issues" related to drugs or drinking. "We are, of course, not
complacent and will continue to monitor the results of the testing
carefully."

South Yorkshire Police also has no plans to do less testing.