All Scottish cops to be drug tested in abuse crackdown

Apr 13 2008 By Norman Silvester

EVERY police officer in Scotland will be routinely drug tested in a crackdown on abuse.

Grampian is the only one of eight Scottish forces to test its officers but Tayside will start over the next few weeks with Strathclyde set to follow.

And plans are being drawn up for a national drug testing programme to be rolled out later this year.

The move, backed by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, will bring forces into line with the Army which has a zero tolerance policy.

Under the proposals, probationers will be tested on joining and every two years afterwards. Everyone who applies for promotion or for specialist posts such as firearms will be tested.

Random testing will also be used on officers who are suspected of using drugs.

There are growing concerns about the number of officers who are recreational drug users and may even be dealing.

It is feared that as many as 1000 officers - six per cent of the total force - use drugs on a regular basis.

Tayside deputy chief constable Kevin Mathieson said: "A national policy will provide a framework for the prevention and management of both alcohol and drug-related problems."

Norman Flowers, of the Scottish Police Federation, said: "We are against officers using drugs but are also concerned welfare issues be addressed when officers are found to be using drugs."