MINISTER LAUNCHES CHILD DRUG TESTING

DRUG testing of child offenders as young as 14 is to begin within
days.

Home Office Minister Caroline Flint was launching a new programme in
ten pilot areas.

The Government was also publishing details of the results of a similar
three-year drug testing programme of adult suspects.

Introduced in October 2001, adults suspected of a series of property
crimes such as burglary, car crime and theft have been tested for
cocaine, heroin and crack when charged by police.

Youngsters aged 14 to 17 will now be tested for the same three Class A
drugs when they are charged with similar crimes.

It will be the first time the initiative has been extended to children
when the pilot launches on Saturday. Those who test positive for any
of the three drugs will be offered voluntary treatment.

In May, 48 per cent of adults who were tested gave a positive result -
a quarter of whom were persistent offenders.

"Evaluation results show that drug testing, while it does not reduce
the number of people taking Class A drugs, does highlight those who
are and enables them to get treatment," said a Home Office
spokeswoman.

The programme was being launched at a drug and alcohol action team in
Manchester - one of the pilot areas, along with Liverpool,
Middlesbrough, Nottingham, Calderdale, Bradford, Hull and the London
boroughs of Camden, Southwark and Newham.

Earlier this year, the Government revealed guidelines would be issued
to headteachers extending their powers to tackle drugs in schools.