Pubdate: Sun, 22 Feb 2004 Source: BBC News (UK Web) Copyright: 2004 BBC Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing) BLAIR BACKS DRUG TESTS IN SCHOOLS Head teachers will be given powers to introduce random drug testing in their school, the prime minister has told a Sunday newspaper. In an interview with the News of the World, Tony Blair said the guidance will be issued next month. Heads will have the power to either offer treatment to young users, exclude them or report them to police. "If you have a serious problem in your school there is no point in trying to conceal it," Mr Blair told the paper. The Department for Education and Skills disclosed earlier this year that it was looking at new guidelines for head teachers, which it had planned to publish this month. But it had not previously been clear whether they would extend to random testing. Results from an ICM Research poll which appears in the News of the World on Sunday suggests 82% of parents and 66% of children support drug testing in schools. Sniffer Dogs Of the 1,000 parents surveyed, 96% said they would want to know if their child was taking drugs. Mr Blair told the paper head teachers could not be forced to introduce drug testing, but said they should have the option if they believe there is a problem in their school. "Some head teachers may worry that if they go down this path they are declaring there is a problem with their school," said the prime minister. "But in my view the local community is probably perfectly well aware that there is a problem." Head teachers will be required to tell all parents if children are being tested at school. A spokesman for Mr Blair later said the government also wanted more police patrols inside schools, and would be making sniffer dogs available, said the News of the World. In the same interview - his first since the Hutton report - Mr Blair vowed to stand for a third term in office. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake