Every police recruit in Scotland will face compulsory drug test

POLICE are to be subjected to drug tests amid fears that hundreds of officers have become addicted - and some are being dragged into Scotland's narcotics underworld.

A substance misuse policy has been agreed by chief constables and rank-and-file representatives which will see every new recruit in Scotland tested during their first two years on the job, The Scotsman can reveal.

Officers working in "high risk" areas - likely to include firearms units and drivers involved in high-speed chases - will also be screened for drugs.

And police chiefs will get the right to test any of Scotland's 17,000 officers and 6,000 civilian support staff if their performance gives cause for concern.

That will apply particularly to post-incident scenarios. For example, firearms officers will face tests after a shooting incident if there is concern about how they handled the situation.

The testing regime, which is a first for the Scottish police service and will mirror a similar initiative which has operated for several years in the North Sea oil industry, is set to be introduced early next year.

It has been reported that as many as 1,000 officers - about 5 per cent of the country's police - are addicted to alcohol or drugs, although the service insist the real figure is lower.

Police say the policy, which also will apply to civilian personnel, is being introduced "to tackle drug and alcohol abuse among officers and improve public confidence in the force".

The tests are also aimed at reducing the threat of corruption among officers whose work frequently exposes them to drugs.

Moira Docherty, director of human resources at Tayside Police, who is part of a national working group implementing the policy, said agreement had been reached between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, the Scottish Police Federation, the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents and Unison.

"Reflecting changes within society, ensuring the health and wellbeing of our staff and enhancing service delivery were key drivers behind the preparation of this policy," she said.

"As a result of this policy all applicants to the police service in the near future will be required to undertake a pre-employment drug test as part of the selection process.

"The policy also enables testing under certain circumstances, but the details of this part of the policy are currently being finalised. In addition, a list of key posts will be identified, following appropriate risk assessment, whereby additional safeguards will be introduced in relation to testing."

A police source close to the discussions surrounding the new policy said officers were at a greater risk of being dragged into drug-taking and dealing than in the past. The source said: "There have been cases where officers have become involved in drugs. This is a recognition that in this day and age police officers can be vulnerable.

"Drug crime is a significant part of society and officers can be dragged into that. There is a threat of corruption if officers get involved.

"There is no evidence that it is a problem with new recruits, but they are certainly more exposed to drugs, both in the course of their duties and before joining the force, than was ever the case before.

"It is clear that there are police officers occasionally using drugs and, in some cases, occasionally dealing in drugs.

"The service has to be seen to be credible. Every time someone gets into trouble it damages the service's credibility."

Ministers will be required to amend existing police regulations to enforce the tests, making it a penalty for a member of staff to refuse to give a sample.