FOI 403550
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 403550
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 22nd April 2025. Please find below the response to your request:
- 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:
- a) Substance misuse tests undertaken at random on your force's officers (not civilian staff).
- b) Substance misuse tests administered with cause on your force's officers (not civilian staff)
- c) Substance misuse tests given on a pre-employment basis to people applying to be a police officer with your force.
- d) The number of positive tests to the number of tests undertaken in total for (a), (b) and (c).
- Please break down 1d (the number of positive tests) by:
- a) The drug detected (e.g. cannabis, cocaine).
- b) The disciplinary measures resulting (e.g. final warning, dismissed, job offer withdrawn).
- 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
- 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:
- 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
- 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
- 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.
- 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
- Please break down 1d (the number of positive tests) by:
- 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.
- b) The disciplinary measures resulting (e.g. final warning, dismissed, job offer withdrawn).
Resigned, but would have been dismissed
- 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.