PRISONERS are to be tested for heroin and cocaine in a pioneering Government scheme to go on trial in Bolton, it has been revealed.

Anyone charged with theft or drug-related offences must provide a saliva sample under the compulsory scheme.

Bolton police will become the first division in Greater Manchester to pilot the initiative, first announced by the Government two years ago.

It will run as a two-year trial at Bolton Central Police Station with the first prisoners likely to be tested from August.

Bolton police are also likely to receive an extra arrest referral worker under the scheme, an officer who refers drug addicts to agencies.

It is hoped the compulsory testing will identify more drug addicts. The results cannot be used as evidence, but will be read out in court, allowing magistrates to refer more drug users for treatment.

It is also thought the compulsory testing scheme may help more prostitutes receive help for their drug addictions.

The scheme follows the alarming results of a recent Government initiative where Class A drugs were detected in more than half of prisoners giving voluntary samples in similar saliva tests.

The two-year trial was today welcomed by drugs agencies in Bolton. Gerard Thomas, project manager at the Step-by-Step project, a voluntary sector substance misuse service based at White Lion Brow, said there was a known problem with heroin and cocaine in the town.

He added: "In theory it is a good idea. Anything that can be used to reduce the widespread harm caused by drugs is a good idea.

"Hopefully this will identify more people who use drugs in Bolton and it will help magistrates know who they are, refer more of them to groups like us and allow us to treat and help them."

Currently, magistrates use Drug Treatment and Testing Orders ( DTTO) to help addicts.

Magistrates can impose a DTTO order requiring a defendant to undergo treatment either as part of a community service order or as a sentence in its own right.

Latest figures reveal that magistrates imposed more than 4,000 orders across the country last year.