Mandatory Drug Testing

HC Deb 01 November 1999 vol 337 c60W

38. Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact on relations between the police and ethnic minorities of his proposals for mandatory drug testing. [95027]

Mr. Boateng

The police service needs to secure the trust and confidence of all sections of the community and to ensure that there is no unfair discrimination against any racial group. The police service is committed to a programme of action in response to the recommendations of the report of the Inquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence published in February, to ensure that this aim is achieved.

We would expect these principles to be reflected in any arrangements to be introduced for drug testing of arrestees.