Drug tests catch TEN Met Police officers using cocaine, heroin and cannabis in 2009

Published 25th Dec 2009

Ten Scotland Yard officers were caught using illegal drugs including cocaine, heroin and cannabis over the last year.

Officers employed by the London force can be subjected to substance and alcohol misuse testing at any time.

New figures revealed three of the officers proved positive for banned drugs during random tests by a team of officials.

The officers took either cocaine, heroin or cannabis. Two resigned and the third was sacked after a misconduct hearing.

The positive tests were only a tiny proportion of the 815 random substance misuse tests that took place in the 12 months up to November.

Officials tested a further 11 officers after colleagues became suspicious they may be using drugs during the same period.

Of these tests, four people tested positive for cannabis and three for cocaine. Six officers resigned and one is waiting for the outcome of a disciplinary hearing.

There were 346 random breath tests and no one recorded a positive result, and 231 pre-employment tests also proved negative.

Senior officers introduced drug and alcohol testing in 2007 after a change in the law enabled random tests of officers in certain roles to take place.

They fear employees and members of the public could be disrupted and even put at risk by the actions of drug users and alcohol abusers.

The Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents frontline officers, said: 'An officer who abuses drugs poses a safety risk to his colleagues.

Those applying for work at the force, probationary officers and specialists with dangerous roles such as carrying firearms or undercover work are subjected to mandatory random tests.

Other officers can be tested when there is a 'reasonable suspicion' of substance misuse.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'The Met has a duty of care to its officers, its staff and the people of London.

'The purpose of substance misuse testing is to ensure that members of the Met are deterred from engaging in substance misuse and, where individuals place themselves, others and the organisation at risk from such misuse, they are identified and dealt with appropriately.

'The Met has a duty to ensure that the vast majority of our staff who are not substance misusers are not affected or put at risk by the actions of those few who might be.

'Substance misuse testing is designed to help create and maintain a healthy workforce and supports the ethos of high integrity, individual responsibility and accountability.

'It also demonstrates a commitment to enhance public confidence in the service we provide.'

The Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents frontline officers, said: 'An officer who abuses drugs poses a safety risk to his colleagues.

'And for an officer to commit a criminal act by using an illegal substance is quite obviously unacceptable.'

:: The statistics were provided by the Metropolitan Police in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

Source: ' Daily Mail '

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