DELAYS recording vital test results showing if criminals are still using drugs have angered a Worcester judge.

Offenders are given drug treatment and testing orders (DTTOs) instead of prison sentences in the hope of weaning them off illegal substances and removing the need for them to commit crimes. Under the orders, they must be regularly tested to ensure they are clean' and frequently reappear before a court to report on their progress.

But although the tests have been carried out as required, it has been revealed that the results have not been recorded by the community drugs team in Worcestershire.

Last week, a probation officer at Worcester Crown Court was forced to admit she did not know if a local man had tested positive or negative at his monthly review.

Judge Andrew Geddes said: "The system is breaking down. It is no good if we don't have the tests in front of us and are unable to monitor defendants. It is quite unsatisfactory."

He said he would be investigating the issue further.

DTTOs were introduced in October 2000 as a new community sentence under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Offenders on the programme must undergo an oral swab every month, carried out by Worcestershire Drugs Intervention Programme staff at their office in Castle Street or Probation Service offices.

Last year 121 offenders in Worcestershire were served DTTOs or the revamped drugs rehabilitation requirements, 48 of which were successfully completed.

Avril Gilmore, manager of Worcestershire Drugs Intervention Programme, confirmed that there had been problems with recording test results since the end of March but said these had now been sorted out.

"There were technical problems with transmissions and receipt of the results from the testing company from late March but this has now been resolved," she said.

"There was never an issue with the tests not being done, it was just with the receipt of the result here.

"All of the results are now available and are now being fed across to probation."

Ms Gilmore said that although the results of the drug test were an important part of DTTOs, judges and magistrates did have other information on defendants such as their response to the order.