PUPILS TO FACE RANDOM DRUG TESTS

TONY Blair has announced schools heads are to be given new powers to order
pupils to undergo random drugs tests.

In an interview with a national newspaper, the Prime Minister said that
headteachers will be issued with guidance on how to deal with pupils they
suspect are taking drugs.

And he said that it would include provisions for spot testing pupils.

"If heads believe they have a problem in their school then they should be
able to do random drug testing," he said.

"Guidance will be given to head teachers next month which is going to give
them specifically the power to do random drug testing within their schools."

The Department for Education and Skills disclosed earlier this year that it
was looking at new guidelines for head teachers, which it had planned to
publish this month.

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However, it had not previously been clear whether they would extend to
random testing.

David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers,
said he agreed with Mr Blair's plans for the random drug testing of pupils
but cautioned that it would only work with the support of headteachers.

He said: "I agree with the Prime Minister's statement on random drug
testing but it will only work if the headteacher wishes to introduce it.

"It would give them another weapon in their fight against drugs being
pushed or used in their schools.

"Whilst it would be quite wrong for it to be imposed externally, it could
be a good example of school-police liaison that helps in the battle against
the widespread drug culture amongst our youth."