People arrested for serious assaults may soon be forced to comply with compulsory drugs and alcohol testing, the Telegraaf says on Thursday.

The results of the tests would be supplied to the public prosecution department and the courts and could be used to justify higher sentences, the paper says.

Justice minister Ard van der Steur supports the concept, as do most political parties with the exception of D66 and the Socialists.

Aggression

Testing for medicines would not be included but doctors and patients should be aware that some medicines can boost aggressive behaviour, the minister is quoted as saying.

D66 parliamentarian Judith Swinkels told RTL that the plan will not lead to people thinking twice before getting drunk. ‘No one is going to say “I’ll just have a coke because I’m going to go out and fight”,’ she said.