Driving licences and passports could be confiscated from people caught with Class A drugs, under new laws proposed by the Government.
People found to be in possession of substances like heroin, cocaine and ecstasy may also be ordered to attend random drugs tests at police stations under tough new plans set out by ministers.
The measures are part of a wider set of sanctions targeting recreational drug users aimed at lowering demand for Class A substances, according to a report in The Times.
The draft legislation proposes that people caught carrying a Class A substance would be given the opportunity to attend a drugs awareness course at first, much like drivers can take a speed awareness class so they don't have points added to their licence.
Those caught after that would be subjected to random drugs tests at police stations.
Users caught for a third time risk confiscation of their driving licence or passport. Anyone who is repeatedly caught possessing Class A drugs will face prosecution.
The Home Office had wanted the confiscation of passports to be applied to all drug users, but police can only enforce it if the offence is travel-related.
Previous police records of a person being caught with drugs and social media posts will be among the evidence used by police to confiscate passports, according to a Government source.
They said that the confiscation of driving licences would be applied more often because it was a greater deterrent and easier to enforce.
Ministers hope that the "immediate penalties" will deter drug use without clogging up the courts with prosecutions.
A Government source told The Times: "We don’t want everyone going to court and we hope that measures one to three will show people we are serious about this and the consequences are certain — there’s no point risking taking drugs anymore.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel will reportedly announce the proposed laws in a drugs white paper. The legislation, slated to be introduced next year, will be subject to a consultation.
Other measures outlined in the paper include efforts to clamp down on the amount of drugs in jail and new schemes to wean prisoners off illicit substances.
The legislation would aim to provide police officers with more advanced equipment so they can test motorists they suspect of being under the influence of drugs at the roadside.
Ministers want drug testing devices to be used in the by police in the same way as breathalysers used to detect drink-driving.
