Scotland Yard police can be tested for substance misuse at any time Ten Metropolitan Police officers were caught using illegal drugs including cocaine, heroin and cannabis over the last year, Scotland Yard has said. Officers employed by the force can be tested for substance and alcohol misuse at any time. Three officers were found to have taken banned drugs through random tests. A further seven tested positive after colleagues raised concerns about them. Met Police released the details after a Freedom of Information Act request. Three of the officers tested positive for banned drugs - either cocaine, heroin or cannabis - during random testing. Two resigned and the third was sacked after a hearing. The Met has a duty of care to its officers, its staff and the people of London

Met Police spokesman Officials tested a further 11 officers after colleagues grew suspicious that they may be using drugs. And, of these tests, four individuals tested positive for cannabis and three for cocaine. Six of those officers resigned, while another is awaiting the outcome of a disciplinary hearing. The positive results formed a tiny proportion of the 815 random substance misuse tests that took place in the 12 months up to November. The figures released revealed that there had been 346 random breath tests in the last year -and no-one recorded a positive result. And 231 pre-employment tests also proved negative. Drug and alcohol testing was introduced in 2007 after a change in the law enabled random tests of officers in certain roles. 'Healthy workforce' Applicants for work at the force, probationary officers and specialists with dangerous roles, such as carrying firearms or undercover work, undergo mandatory random tests. And other officers can be tested when there is a "reasonable suspicion" of substance misuse. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said random drug testing was used to "help create and maintain a healthy workforce", as well as uphold the force's integrity. He went on: "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."



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