Criminal Justice Act 2003

Drug testing as part of supervision of young offenders after release

5 (1) Until the coming into force of the repeal by this Act of section 65 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53) (supervision of young offenders after release), that section has effect subject to the following modifications.

(2) In subsection (5B)—

(a) in paragraph (a), for “18 years” there is substituted “14 years”,

(b) for paragraph (b) there is substituted—

“(b) a responsible officer is of the opinion—

(i) that the offender has a propensity to misuse specified Class A drugs, and

(ii) that the misuse by the offender of any specified Class A drug caused or contributed to any offence of which he has been convicted, or is likely to cause or contribute to the commission by him of further offences; and”.

(3) After subsection (5D) there is inserted—

“(5E) A person under the age of 17 years may not be required by virtue of subsection (5A) to provide a sample otherwise than in the presence of an appropriate adult.”

(4) For subsection (10) there is substituted—

“(10) In this section—

• “appropriate adult”, in relation to a person aged under 17, means—

  (a)

  his parent or guardian or, if he is in the care of a local authority or voluntary organisation, a person representing that authority or organisation,

  (b)

  a social worker of a local authority social services department, or

  (c)

  if no person falling within paragraph (a) or (b) is available, any responsible person aged 18 or over who is not a police officer or a person employed by the police;

• “responsible officer” means—

  (a)

  in relation to an offender aged under 18, an officer of a local probation board or a member of a youth offending team;

  (b)

  in relation to an offender aged 18 or over, an officer of a local probation board;

• “specified Class A drug” has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (c. 43).”