U.K. SEEKS WIDER USE OF DRUG TESTS

LONDON, April 5 (UPI) -- Britain's prime minister wants the government to
test more criminal suspects for narcotics use, the BBC reported Monday.

Tony Blair has asked his British Home Office to investigate the possibility
of making mandatory the drug testing of all people arrested for offences
such as burglary and theft.

Under current law, authorities may only test suspects who are specifically
arrested for drug offenses.

About three in four crack cocaine and heroin users claim they commit crime
to fund their habits, with 75 percent of the 100,000 most persistent British
offenders involved in drug abuse, the BBC said.