TORIES PLEDGE TO FIGHT DRUGS 'EPIDEMIC'

The Conservative Party's "war on crime" will focus on fighting off the
threat of a hard drugs "epidemic", David Davis, the shadow home secretary,
has announced.

David Davis: Rehabilitation Is 'No Soft Option'

Speaking to party members at their annual conference in Bournemouth, Mr
Davis accused the Government of ignoring the escalating problem and pledged
to step up random drugs tests in schools.

The Tories are also planning a tenfold expansion of rehab places which
would force addicted criminals to choose between treatment or jail.

Mr Davis said that the "deadly and serious threat" of drugs was ruining
lives across the country.

"Some people say that we've lost the war on drugs; I say we haven't begun
to fight it. Fighting it will be my top priority.

"If nothing is done we will face a drugs epidemic, with terrible effects on
our whole society."

Enough 13-15 year olds to fill 100 secondary schools had used cocaine,
making testing of pupils essential, he said.

"Children need to know that it is not cool to use drugs: it's stupid, it's
illegal, and it's dangerous.

Mr Davis pledged to build more prisons, scrap Labour's early release scheme
and put more cash into prisoner education.

An extra 40,000 police officers would be recruited and freed of red tape,
he said.

The Conservatives are also taking a tough new stance on immigration,
promising that the numbers allowed into the UK would have to be
"substantially cut".

"It's time to regain control, end political correctness, cut red tape,
enforce the law and send a clear and consistent message: we're not going to
be pushed around any more," Mr Davis said.

Earlier, David Willetts, the shadow work and pensions secretary, unveiled
plans for private firms and charities to help jobseekers.

He told the conference that Labour's New Deal programme would be scrapped
to pay for rises in the basic state pension.

It would be replaced with Work First - where commercial providers and
charities would offer work placements and job search services to help the
unemployed back to work.