Police officers could face random drugs testing under plans being considered by the government.

Although the Home Office rejected similar proposals last year, minister Hazel Blears told the BBC that the Police Advisory Board is set to examine the possibility .

"We will be very interested to see what comes out of the board and we will look at the issue again then," she said.

The move already has the support of senior police officers.

"We owe it to the public to show it quite clearly and categorically that police are not taking illicit drugs," said Kevin Morris, president of the Police Superintendents' Association.

"I think we have to be realistic that with over 130,000 police officers some will be tempted."

Liberal Democrats have given cautious support to the plans.

"Any police officer taking illegal drugs risks their judgement being impaired and their self-discipline being reduced," said home affairs spokesman Simon Hughes.

"If it helps public confidence in the police and if senior management believe it is necessary for good discipline and order in the force, then random drug testing of police officers should go ahead.

"Those who enforce the law must be seen and known to be obeying the law."

However, the Police Federation has already voiced its opposition to the drugs testing.

It argues that officers with "personal problems" will need the support of their force.

"Those personal problems could come in a variety of ways - alcohol or drug dependency," said chairman Jan Berry.

"We drastically need an occupational health scheme that gives officers the support they need."

Compulsory drugs testing has already been imposed in the armed forces: since its introduction in 1994, the number of positive findings has fallen from five per cent to less than one per cent.