FOI 403550

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 403550

I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 22^nd April 2025. Please find below the response to your request:

1. Please tell me, with reference to each of the last four financial years (21/22) (22/23) (23/24) and (24/25), the number of:
2. a) Substance misuse tests undertaken at random on your force's officers (not civilian staff).
3. b) Substance misuse tests administered with cause on your force's officers (not civilian staff)
4. c) Substance misuse tests given on a pre-employment basis to people applying to be a police officer with your force.
5. d) The number of positive tests to the number of tests undertaken in total for (a), (b) and (c).

2. Please break down 1d (the number of positive tests) by:
3. a) The drug detected (e.g. cannabis, cocaine).
4. b) The disciplinary measures resulting (e.g. final warning, dismissed, job offer withdrawn).
5. c) Whether the substance misuse test was given at random, with cause or on a pre-employment basis.

NOTE: For pre-employment tests, I do not require that you break down the number of positives by substance detected.

Reply

West Mercia Police hold some of the information you have requested

1. Please tell me, with reference to each of the last four financial years (21/22) (22/23) (23/24) and (24/25), the number of:
2. a) Substance misuse tests undertaken at random on your force's officers (not civilian staff).

2021/22 – 4, 2021/22 – 0, 2022/23 – 5, 2023/24 – 0, 2024/25 – 4

1. b) Substance misuse tests administered with cause on your force's officers (not civilian staff)

2021/22 – 0, 2021/22 – 0, 2022/23 – 2, 2023/24 – 2, 2024/25 – 2

1. c) Substance misuse tests given on a pre-employment basis to people applying to be a police officer with your force.

No information held – the data on pre-employment urine screens are not kept, all face to face recruitment medicals have a drug urine screen conducted.

1. d) The number of positive tests to the number of tests undertaken in total for (a), (b) and (c).

Can Only provide information for a+b=19

2. Please break down 1d (the number of positive tests) by:
3. a) The drug detected (e.g. cannabis, cocaine).

1 x Cocaine (information provided by PSD)

Although no information is held on full numbers of tests carried out, Occupational health has not had a confirmed (via Abott lab analysis) positive pre-employment drug urine screen in any of the 4 financial years requested.

There have been a few ‘false positives’ but when further lab analysis conducted this has been concurrent with what the applicant has declared taking i.e prescribed medication from GP, so no action taken.

1. b) The disciplinary measures resulting (e.g. final warning, dismissed, job offer withdrawn).

Resigned, but would have been dismissed

1. c) Whether the substance misuse test was given at random, with cause or on a pre-employment basis.

With cause

NOTE: For pre-employment tests, I do not require that you break down the number of positives by substance detected.