BLAIR BACKS DRUG TESTS IN SCHOOLS

Head teachers will be given powers to introduce random drug testing in
their school, the prime minister has told a Sunday newspaper.

In an interview with the News of the World, Tony Blair said the
guidance will be issued next month.

Heads will have the power to either offer treatment to young users,
exclude them or report them to police.

"If you have a serious problem in your school there is no point in
trying to conceal it," Mr Blair told the paper.

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.

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

Results from an ICM Research poll which appears in the News of the
World on Sunday suggests 82% of parents and 66% of children support
drug testing in schools.

Sniffer Dogs

Of the 1,000 parents surveyed, 96% said they would want to know if
their child was taking drugs.

Mr Blair told the paper head teachers could not be forced to introduce
drug testing, but said they should have the option if they believe
there is a problem in their school.

"Some head teachers may worry that if they go down this path they are
declaring there is a problem with their school," said the prime minister.

"But in my view the local community is probably perfectly well aware
that there is a problem."

Head teachers will be required to tell all parents if children are
being tested at school.

A spokesman for Mr Blair later said the government also wanted more
police patrols inside schools, and would be making sniffer dogs
available, said the News of the World.

In the same interview - his first since the Hutton report - Mr Blair
vowed to stand for a third term in office.