Plans by Priti Patel, the UK home secretary, to confiscate passports and driving licences from people using drugs for so called “recreational use” have been dismissed by the Scottish Government.

Patel has published a White Paper which would introduce a three-tier system of measures targeting use of drugs like cannabis and cocaine.

Tier one would see first time offenders told to pay for and attend a drug awareness course, if not then pay a fixed penalty or face prosecution.

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But in Scotland the government said more punishment is not the answer.

Tier two, for a those who offend a second time, would mean being put on a further drug awareness course, given a caution and face mandatory drug testing for up to three months.

And tier three would mean facing charges, drug tag monitoring and passports could be confiscated and driving licences disqualified.

The home secretary said the paper was for England and Wales but tiers one and three could apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

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Glasgow Times:

She said: “We are cracking down on drug use with tougher consequences for so-called recreational drug users who will face the consequences of their actions through sanctions including fines and conditions to attend rehabilitation courses, while drug offenders could have their passports and driving licences confiscated.

“In line with our strategy to tackle the harmful consequences of drugs, we aim to reverse the rising trend of substance use in society, to protect the public from the harm and violence of drug misuse.”

Patel said tiers one and three could be applied in Scotland.

The White Paper states: “Tiers one and three may also apply to Scotland and Northern Ireland, which will be determined in due course. We welcome continued engagement from devolved governments and stakeholders across the UK.”

The Scottish Government, however, said punishment through courts and sanctions do not work and would not support them being applied in Scotland.

A Scottish Government spokesperson, said: “We have adopted a public health approach to drug use, and are implementing evidence informed measures that aim to treat drug dependency as the health issue it is.

"Increasing or expanding criminal sanctions have not in the past proven successful in preventing death or drug-related harms.

“We would therefore oppose any decision to require Scotland to implement these or similar measures and would highlight the significant risks inherent in such approaches.”