A UK law has been changed to enforce random, mandatory drug tests for thousands of people after they are released from prison.
From today (October 3), many former prisoners who are supervised in probation hostels, known as Approved Premises, will be randomly tested for 14 different types of drugs as part of a £1.2 million initiative to "reduce reoffending".
People whose drug habits are directly linked to their crimes will be "legally required to take a urine test up to once a week to prevent their addiction from spiralling into further crimes". All other people will be tested at least twice whilst being supervised in Approved Premises.
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Anyone who tests positive will be forced to undergo intensive drug treatment or face being sent back to prison.
Rob Butler, Prisons and Probation Minister, said: "I’ve seen first-hand how drug addiction is too often at the heart of criminal activity and I have campaigned to change that. This mandatory testing will act as a deterrent to anyone tempted to abuse drugs again, help cut crime and make our communities safer."
Government figures state illegal drug use costs the taxpayer nearly £22 billion each year, including NHS, prison and police costs.
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