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UK: Drug tests for 10-year-olds
Kamal Ahmed, political editor The Observer
Sunday 22 Dec 2002 Police want age limit cut from 18 to tackle growing substance abuse problem Children as young as 10 should be tested for drugs to tackle the spiralling problem of substance abuse among the young, according to top police officers. They are backing an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill that would make it legal for police to test for drugs any child over the age of 10 who has been arrested for a criminal offence. At present, no one under 18 can be tested for substance abuse. Howard Roberts, assistant chief constable of Notting hamshire Police and one of the country's leading experts on drug abuse, has told colleagues that it is only by gaining a better understanding about how many children take drugs that something can be done about it. The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said it was considering the proposal and would make a formal statement on the issue early in the New Year. 'It is something we are aware of that raises serious issues that need to be addressed,' a spokesman said. 'There are matters surrounding drug taking and young people that we are looking at.' The amendment will be tabled in the New Year by Graham Allen, the Labour MP who is on the committee scrutinising the Bill as it goes through the Commons. Allen, MP for Nottingham North, said the present suggestion that the age at which young people can be tested should be reduced to 14 did not go far enough. He said: 'There are young people in my constituency, who by age 14 are old hands to drugs, and well known to local police. 'Drug testing of arrested children should begin at age 10. After all, 10 is the youngest age for criminal responsibility. If a child is taking drugs at 10, then effective early intervention can save taxpayers money, reduce crime in the community and deliver children and families from the misery of drug abuse.' Allen, who was a government whip before the last election and has just been voted Backbencher of the Year, admitted that civil liberties groups would be outraged by the proposal, but said it should be seen positively as tackling a problem rather than creating a new one. 'A minority of law-breakers make others' lives a misery, particularly in neglected council estates which predominate in constituencies like mine,' he said. 'The focus has been on the civil liberty aspects of the Bill. My concern is the civic freedom of intimidated witnesses, innocent victims and frightened citizens.' The compulsory testing of adults arrested for 'acquisitive crimes' such as burglary, robbery and shoplifting, has revealed that 60 per cent were using drugs and that crime was a way of fuelling their habit. Chief superintendent Marcus Beale, of Nottinghamshire Police, said that it was time for a new debate on children and drugs. 'When we started drug testing we were amazed at the sheer number of people who tested positive,' Beale, who works with Roberts, said. 'By moving that testing regime down to the age of 10 we are future-proofing the legislation. 'If you think that there might be a problem at 14 now, then in the future there might be a problem at 10. Let's recognise that the situation is changing rapidly.'
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