[size=+1]Millions of workers should be tested for drugs: Met chief declares war on substance abuse[/size]
• Professionals should face drug testing, says Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe
• Met Police Commissioner said action was needed to discourage demand
• He said testing could take place in 'all occupations', but in particular teachers, intensive care nurses and transport staff
Millions of professionals should face mandatory drug testing at work, Britain’s most senior police officer has suggested.
Anyone who failed a test and refused help to get clean should lose their job, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said.
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner said as well as ‘robust’ policing of dealers, action was needed to discourage the demand for illegal substances. He said testing could take place in ‘all occupations’ but cited in particular teachers, intensive care nurses and transport staff.
In a speech to the all-party parliamentary group on cannabis and children, Sir Bernard said drug testing and the fear of losing their job would act as a deterrent for drug users. He said: ‘It seems to me we have got to plant in people’s minds something to affect the demand as well as supply. You can think of many occupations where if you were working with a colleague you would want to be sure in fact that they were drug free.’
Employers who discovered a staff member abusing drugs would not have to turn ‘informant’ and tell the police, he added.
Anyone caught with drugs in their system should be offered help to stop, he said – but anyone who refused that help should suffer ‘consequences, which would probably be about their employment’.
Full article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...s-Met-chief-declares-war-substance-abuse.html
• Professionals should face drug testing, says Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe
• Met Police Commissioner said action was needed to discourage demand
• He said testing could take place in 'all occupations', but in particular teachers, intensive care nurses and transport staff
Millions of professionals should face mandatory drug testing at work, Britain’s most senior police officer has suggested.
Anyone who failed a test and refused help to get clean should lose their job, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said.
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner said as well as ‘robust’ policing of dealers, action was needed to discourage the demand for illegal substances. He said testing could take place in ‘all occupations’ but cited in particular teachers, intensive care nurses and transport staff.
In a speech to the all-party parliamentary group on cannabis and children, Sir Bernard said drug testing and the fear of losing their job would act as a deterrent for drug users. He said: ‘It seems to me we have got to plant in people’s minds something to affect the demand as well as supply. You can think of many occupations where if you were working with a colleague you would want to be sure in fact that they were drug free.’
Employers who discovered a staff member abusing drugs would not have to turn ‘informant’ and tell the police, he added.
Anyone caught with drugs in their system should be offered help to stop, he said – but anyone who refused that help should suffer ‘consequences, which would probably be about their employment’.
Full article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...s-Met-chief-declares-war-substance-abuse.html
