POLICE OFFICERS FACE RANDOM DRUG TESTS

North Yorkshire's three Police Federation officials have volunteered
to be the first officers to undergo drugs testing when it comes into
force later this year.

The force will become one of the first in the country to bring in
testing for alcohol and illegal drugs - which is expected to begin in
June.

Mark Botham, chairman of the North Yorkshire branch of the Police
Federation - which represents rank and file bobbies, said: "We fully
support the drugs testing side and are working with the force to
resolve certain issues about the data security of results for our members.

"There are a number of things still to be resolved but in terms of the
official Home Office guidance, we support it.

"We have volunteered to be the first to undergo the
tests."

Current deputy secretary Mal Taylor - who will replace Les Coverdale
as secretary when he retires in May - and new deputy Nigel Day - have
also volunteered to undergo the tests.

Jon Porter, director of human resources at North Yorkshire Police,
said: "Both the force and representatives of the Police Federation
welcome the testing principle.

"It can only serve to increase the safety of our officers and the
communities we serve.

"We continue to work together to make it work in practise."

The scheme will see officers of all ranks face random testing for
drugs and alcohol.

An ACPO spokeswoman said a number of forces had already introduced
random drugs testing for firearms officers and those likely to be
driving at high speeds, but North Yorkshire is one of the first to
introduce random drug testing across the board.

Under national guidelines, anybody failing a test could face
dismissal.

The move follows Home Office regulations introduced in November 2005,
which permits the testing of police officers.

It came after growing concern that drug use within the police
nationally was becoming commonplace.

Ministers said the police could not be seen to be charging members of
the public for drugs offences if they were also committing them.

A company called Concateno has won the contract to test police
officers in North Yorkshire, and several other forces in the north of
England, for alcohol and illegal drugs.

The deal is worth more than UKP 600,000 spread over three
years.

Candidates applying to join the police will be tested, in addition to
random testing on existing officers.

Tests will be carried out on samples of hair, urine and
saliva.

The company already carries out drug and alcohol tests for the Prison
Service at 137 prisons across the UK.

Chairman Keith Tozzi said that a growing number of tests were on hair
samples because of the amount of information it provides.

He said: "A saliva test shows what was consumed 24 hours before, a
urine test shows what was taken four days before but hair, which grows
about 1cm a month, can give a complete chronological list of what the
person has taken, in what quantities, over the last few months."