Pubdate: Tue, 27 Jul 2004 Source: Edinburgh Evening News (UK) Copyright: 2004 The Scotsman Publications Ltd Contact: http://www.edinburghnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1626 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) MINISTER LAUNCHES CHILD DRUG TESTING DRUG testing of child offenders as young as 14 is to begin within days. Home Office Minister Caroline Flint was launching a new programme in ten pilot areas. The Government was also publishing details of the results of a similar three-year drug testing programme of adult suspects. Introduced in October 2001, adults suspected of a series of property crimes such as burglary, car crime and theft have been tested for cocaine, heroin and crack when charged by police. Youngsters aged 14 to 17 will now be tested for the same three Class A drugs when they are charged with similar crimes. It will be the first time the initiative has been extended to children when the pilot launches on Saturday. Those who test positive for any of the three drugs will be offered voluntary treatment. In May, 48 per cent of adults who were tested gave a positive result - a quarter of whom were persistent offenders. "Evaluation results show that drug testing, while it does not reduce the number of people taking Class A drugs, does highlight those who are and enables them to get treatment," said a Home Office spokeswoman. The programme was being launched at a drug and alcohol action team in Manchester - one of the pilot areas, along with Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Nottingham, Calderdale, Bradford, Hull and the London boroughs of Camden, Southwark and Newham. Earlier this year, the Government revealed guidelines would be issued to headteachers extending their powers to tackle drugs in schools. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake