Mass drug testing proposed
Mass drug testing in Staffordshire - reply from the Home Office
Read our original letter - click here
This is the reply, dated 18th June 2003, we received from Lisa Reed, a member of the Home Office Drug Strategy Directorate, in response to our letter concerning the use of a laptop to randomly drug test customers of pubs, clubs and festivals in Staffordshire - click here for the full story.
Thank you for your letter to the Home Secretary regarding drug testing in Staffordshire. It has been passed to me in the Drugs Strategy Directorate for reply.
The Drug Strategy aims to combat the harm caused by drugs through a number of responses. These substances are illegal because of the harm they cause to individuals, families and communities, especially class A drugs.
It is recognised that there is no simple answer to drug dealing and drug-related crime. There needs to be a range of flexible responses: prevention, education, harm minimisation, treatment and effect policing. The Updated Drug Strategy 2002 focuses on 4 main aims.
Firstly preventing young people from becoming problematic drug users in the future; providing good quality substance misuse education, provision of appropriate services and support for families.
Young people need information to be able to protect themselves from the risks and dangers of drug misuse.
Secondly, reducing the supply of illegal drugs by targeting all stages of the supply chain and deterring those who seek to profit from the proceeds of drug crime.
Thirdly, reducing the harm caused by drugs to communities through tackling drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour as well as linking with neighbourhood renewal strategies.
The strategy aims touse every opportunity within the criminal justice system to identify and move drug-misusing offenders into treatment.
Lastly, to concentrate of investing in the development of good quality and flexible treatment services for drug misusers, which includes harm minimisation. Staffordshire police work within the framework outlined in the 2002 Updated Drug Strategy, however they have discretion to adopt appropriate strategies they feel are necessary to combat drug misuse at a local level.
I am aware that Staffordshire Police have answered the more detailed points raised by your letter. Thank you once again for taking the time to write.