Pubdate: Tue,  16 Nov 2004
Source: Scotsman (UK)
Copyright: The Scotsman Publications Ltd 2004
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/406
Website: http://www.scotsman.com/
Author: Jamie Lyons, PA Political Correspondent
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)

TORIES WANT MORE DRUG TESTING IN SCHOOLS

Drug Addicts Could Avoid Prosecution By Opting For Treatment Instead Under 
Plans Unveiled By The Conservatives Today.

The Tories also want to expand random drug-testing in schools and ensure 
repeat dealers serve at least seven years in prison.

The six-point action plan to tackle illegal drugs was announced by 
Conservative leader Michael Howard.

Under the plans, police would be given the power to divert addicts into 
treatment without going through the courts.

In the first phase young addicts arrested for minor offences would be 
offered the choice of going straight into a residential rehabilitation 
centre or facing prosecution.

The aim would be to extend the scheme to older addicts in time.

Mr Howard said a Tory government would give local authorities the cash 
needed to buy machines for random drug-testing in schools.

He said although Labour had allowed heads the freedom to test, it had not 
given them the necessary funding.

The Tories would also change the law to ensure repeat dealers served the 
minimum mandatory sentence of seven years.

Sentencing guidelines would also be changed to make it more likely adults 
convicted of knowingly selling drugs to children would go to prison.

The Tory plans would also mean:

A ten-fold increase in the number of residential rehabilitation places to 
more than 25,000.

A major advertising and advice campaign with a "clear, consistent" 
anti-drugs message.

Restoring the B classification to cannabis in order to end the current 
"confusion" and send a clear message that drugs are dangerous.

Mr Howard announced the plans on a visit to a north London estate blighted 
by drug dealers.

"Drugs cause terrible damage to our society," he said.

"They ruin lives. They fuel crime. And wholly innocent people, and the 
communities in which they live, are harmed.

"We could be doing more, much more. So today we are setting out our action 
plan on drugs to help stop the spread of drugs, to help reduce the crime 
which drugs fuel, and to help those, especially young people, who want to 
turn away from drugs."
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