Drug Testing On Arrest in West Merica: Skunk is weapon of choice for ‘designated’ driver
TO Bromsgrove and Droitwich, where anyone over 18 under arrest for “crimes including burglary, drug supply and possession or theft and fraud” will be tested for Class A drugs. They will be swabbed. Of course, swabbing can be sued to reveals a person’s DNA.
It’s called Drug Testing On Arrest (DTOA).
The purpose is to “steer people off drugs”.
How? Well, “If a positive test result is given, the detainee is then required to attend two meetings with a drugs worker.”
Even if you’re innocent of the crime for which you’ve been arrested.
Oh, and if you don’t want to be swabbed, you could face three months in prison and or a fine.
Det Chf Insp Andy Hughes, of West Mercia police, opines:
“We are confident the introduction of DTOA will allow us to target users of Class A drugs and then channel them into treatment. We also believe the initiative will offer us greater intelligence about drug users, drug supply and demand, and will also allow us to target our efforts more accurately and with a much higher degree of knowledge.”
As reader Yamster notes:
This is going to go down well with the local stoners. Skunk is the weapon of choice locally for the ‘designated’ driver. On a Saturday night the sniffer dogs end up chasing their tails. I don’t agree with the two days compulsory counselling though. Drunks don’t get it why should the druggies?
The Home Office has produced a document:
Drug testing on arrest – Drug testing is a powerful tool for identifying drug-misusing offenders.
No sh*t, Sherlock.
Drug testing was introduced in 2003 as one of a suite of tools and powers used as part of the drug Interventions Programme (DIP) to help tackle drug-related offending.
But what if you committed no offence? What if the drugs in your system are the only so-called offence?
Another report notes:
The police can test those arrested (or charged) with a range of specific ‘trigger’ offences. The trigger offences are those that research has shown to have the clearest link with the use of heroin and cocaine / crack (a list of the trigger offences can be found at Annex A). The police can also test those arrested for or charged with any other (‘non-trigger’) offence, using ‘Inspector’s Authority’, when a police officer of at least Inspector rank authorises the taking of a sample on the basis of having reasonable grounds to suspect that misuse of any specified class A drug caused or contributed to the offence.
Adding:
The drug test is a screening tool only and the result cannot be used as evidence against the detainee.
So. It’s not evidence. But if you fail to comply with compulsory counselling you are in breach of the law:
The result of the test can lead to referrals for treatment and can also be used to inform court decisions on bail and sentencing.
Can’t fail.
Posted: 1st, November 2012 | In: Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
