An MHK is pressing the case for testing hair to detect illegal drug use.
Zac Hall (Onchan) asked Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson in the House of Keys whether it would be possible to use the seized assets fund to develop a proactive hair drug testing strategy in conjunction with a local laboratory.
But in his written reply, Mr Watterson said the need for such a proactive hair drug testing strategy had not been raised with his department by the police, prison, probation or the courts – or indeed by anyone else other than Mr Hall.
He added: ‘I would suggest that [he] may wish to raise this matter, as chair of the Police Advisory Group, with this body.
‘If the Group considers it appropriate consideration could be given to any need, or demand, for such a service on the island, and if demand was identified the question of the source of funding could then be considered.’
In the Keys last year, Mr Hall asked how many hair drug tests have been initiated by the courts, prison and probation services in the past 12 months to detect and track illegal drug use.
The answer in each case was none.