[Ammi]

Millions of professionals should be tested for drug use at work, Britain's most senior policeman has demanded.

The hardline proposal came during a meeting with the all-party parliamentary group on cannabis and children, in which the metropolitan police commissioner said more action was needed to discourage the use of illicit substances

"It seems to me we have got to plant in people's minds something to affect the demand as well as supply," Bernard Hogan-Howe said.

"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."

He suggested teachers, intensive care nurses and transport staff should be targeted first but that all workers should eventually face the tests.

Workers found to have taken illicit drugs would then be offered help but lose their job if they failed to accept it.

The proposal would cause howls of outrage among trade unions and civil liberties campaigners if it was ever introduced and could have a serious impact on many professions – not least the financial sector, where the use of cocaine is common

However, drug testing at work is more-or-less accepted in the US, where tests are conducted randomly at many work places.

The police chief also warned against the use of cannabis by teenagers and young people, in a message which was at odds with the more liberal response to the drug to come from many senior officers


Daily Mail article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...nce-abuse.html

[Nedusa]

I agree lets start with the Police Force....!!!!

[Niall]

This is stupid. Hardline bans on drugs haven't been working and to me it doesn't seem like it ever will work.

I'm just surprised that the government hasn't cottoned on to the fact that if they regulated drugs and sold them to the population in safer forms then it would earn them a hell of a lot more money, and would avoid everyone having to come up with stupid regulations like this that would only put more people out of work and cause people to wind up on benefits, costing everyone more in the long run. It's just ridiculous.

[Redway]

Originally Posted by Niall

This is stupid. Hardline bans on drugs haven't been working and to me it doesn't seem like it ever will work.

I'm just surprised that the government hasn't cottoned on to the fact that if they regulated drugs and sold them to the population in safer forms then it would earn them a hell of a lot more money, and would avoid everyone having to come up with stupid regulations like this that would only put more people out of work and cause people to wind up on benefits, costing everyone more in the long run. It's just ridiculous.

[2]. Portugal and Amsterdam are two case studies to prove that more lenient attitudes towards drugs would be far more beneficial. To say anything else goes against solid evidence and these people should really consider their stance on the matter. Seriously.

Incidentally, though, I disagree with you saying that drugs (plural) should be regulated. Legalise and regulate the production of cannabis but leave it at that (decriminalise the rest).

[Nedusa]

I still wanna start with the Police....!!!!

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Nedusa

I agree lets start with the Police Force....!!!!

That's actually probably a very good idea Nedusa.

[Kizzy]

Good plan