Ainsworth: useful tool in war on drugs

Compulsory drug testing of burglars and car thieves is assisting in the war on Class A narcotics, ministers have said.

Revealing the results of nine pilot tests the Home Office says the testing is providing an early warning system which allows users to be given treatment.

Results from the evaluation of the nine pilot sites show that, of those charged with a trigger offence, such as burglary and theft from and of vehicles, the proportion of positive tests for crack, cocaine and heroin were between 66 per cent in Hackney and 36 per cent in Torquay.

The drug testing pilot programme was introduced in 2001 in three areas before being extended to a further six sites in summer 2002.

The government says the tests "ensure that problematic drug users are identified early and offered appropriate treatment".

Drugs minister Bob Ainsworth, said: "Drug using criminals need to be obliged to get treatment - that is why drug testing in custody suites is a vital element of the government's drug strategy.

"By targeting drug-fuelled offenders early, we can get them into treatment and away from a life of crime."

Ainsworth said the high percentage of positive tests underlines that the government is right to target heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine.

"Overall crime is stable but Class A drugs cause a significant amount of property crime, including street crime and theft of and from vehicles," he said.

The government is set to introduce compulsory testing in the 30 areas worst affected by drug related crime.