Drugs tests for children aged 14

Children as young as 14 are to be given compulsory tests for hard drugs such as crack cocaine and heroin.

Teenagers will be subjected to testing at police stations after they are charged with crimes including shoplifting and burglary.

Even first-time suspects will be tested and their parents told if the result is positive, the Government revealed today.

They may be ordered to undergo drug treatment as part of their sentence.

Anyone who refuses to take the test can be locked up for three months and fined up to £2,500.

The testing will be introduced this Sunday in 10 pilot areas including three of London's high-crime boroughs - Camden, Southwark and Newham.

Hundreds of teenagers are expected to be tested within the first few month. They will be given mouth swabs to check for cocaine, heroin and cannabis.

Since 2001, suspects aged over 18 have undergone compulsory hard drugs tests under a pilot scheme which has now extended to 66 areas. The move to extend the regime to teenagers aged 14 to 17 reflects official unease at the number in this group who have tried hard drugs.

A Home Office spokesman said: "We know some young people take drugs. We want to find new ways to get them into treatment. We want to find out as early as possible who is taking class A drugs, before it becomes a serious habit."