By Rob McLaren

Tayside branch of the Scottish Police Federation, which represents-rank and-file officers, said yesterday they would welcome routine drug tests being introduced to the force.

Branch board secretary Sergeant Malcolm Gibbs said he was not currently aware of any officers in Tayside taking drugs—but the move would act as a deterrent.

He said there was “no scope” for police officers on the force taking drugs.

The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland will meet next month to discuss a drugs policy—and Sgt Gibbs said it was a “strong possibility” that drug testing would be part of this strategy.

The move also has the backing of the Scottish Police Federation Strathclyde branch, which represents half of the police officers in Scotland, who made the call at this week’s annual conference to drug test all police officers.

Sgt Gibbs said young officers were more likely to have been exposed to drugs because drug use now is more widespread.

He said that the tests were needed as a “precautionary” measure.

“We are certainly not naive enough to say our officers have never been exposed to controlled drugs,” said Sgt Gibbs.

“Currently, there is a much wider range of people using controlled drugs, particularly in a recreational manner. That has never happened previously.

“New recruits are more likely to have come in contact with drugs than ever before and currently we give them information about the dangers of using controlled drugs but we would welcome officers being routinely tested for drugs.

“We have to consider the health and welfare of all our officers and obviously we can’t have officers under the influence of drugs when on duty.

“We can’t have officers breaking the law in acquiring and using drugs.

“If they did then we would want to know how they were sourcing the drugs. There is no scope in the police service for drug-taking officers.”

He stressed that he was not aware of any problem with officers in Tayside taking drugs and said drug testing would be purely a “precautionary measure.”

“The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland is currently working on a new drugs policy—and I think there is a very strong possibility that drug testing will come as a result of this,” he added.