Police Scotland to Train 300 Frontline Officers in Drug-Testing Amid Rising Concerns

A recent revelation at the Bathgate Local Area Committee has highlighted the growing issue of drug driving in Scotland. Harry Cartmill, the committee's chair, expressed concern about the lack of police officers trained to carry out drug tests, leading Sergeant Jamie Duthie to admit that the current practice of relying on roads policing officers is "frustrating." This comes as Police Scotland prepares to train 300 extra frontline officers in specialized roadside tests, aiming to enhance road safety and tackle the issue of drug driving.

Key Takeaways:

• Police Scotland plans to train 300 frontline officers in specialized roadside tests to tackle the issue of drug driving.
• The training will enable around 700 drug-wipe samples to be sent for testing every month, equivalent to 8,400 tests a year.
• The move will have a positive impact on road safety, with senior officers claiming it will save lives and reduce injuries.
• The cost of the training will be over £1.4 million, but the long-term goal is a force-wide roll-out of drug-wipes.
• The incremental roll-out is scheduled to begin in October, continuing in April and October next year, and concluding in April 2027.
• 315 officers, or 3.2% of frontline police, will have undergone the training course by April 2027.
• A successful pilot scheme in Shetland resulted in 15 positive drug-driving results out of 30 tests, with all offenders being local residents.
• Proving a driver was above specified drug limits is expensive and resource-intensive, with single drug wipes costing £17 and outsourced forensic testing £266 per sample.
• Offenders face severe penalties, including three to 11 penalty points, a driving ban of at least one year, fines of up to £5,000, and six months in prison.
• Ready availability of a car including insurance may be required even in times of ambition.