Metropolitan police officers are being randomly -*test*-('")ed for drugs as part of a wide-ranging clampdown on possible substance abuse, it emerged yesterday.

Scotland Yard confirmed that police staff, community support officers and special constables are all open to -*test*-('")s. Probationers are also subject to screening, as are officers in "specialist and safety critical areas". Previously, -*test*-('")s were carried out to screen new recruits.

The policy came into force on January 25 following the amendment of police regulations. It was drawn up in consultation with the Police Federation, the trade unions and staff associations.

The -*test*-('")s involve taking saliva or urine samples, with an initial result available within minutes. An accredited, independent -*test*-('")ing company is to be used in cases where further -*test*-('")s are required, but results will still be expected within 48 hours. The regime will -*test*-('") for amphetamines, ecstasy, cannabis, cocaine and opiates such as morphine and heroin, as well as benzodiazepine tranquillisers and sedatives.

A Met spokeswoman said any employee who voluntarily seeks help with a substance misuse problem will still be offered confidential support. She added: "The use of illegal substances ... is proven to impair the judgment and performance of an individual. The MPS has a duty of care to its officers and staff, and the people of London, to deliver a high quality service, safely and efficiently."

I am confident that none of the people I work with on duty take illegal drugs and in that sense I don't think this policy is going to have much effect, but at the end of the day, we have upto 35000 officers, it would be unrealistic to say that none of them took illegal substances. It will be interesting to see how many have been caught by the random -*test*-('")ing in 6 months or so.

All drugs units here get -*test*-('")ed and other officers who are reported or seem "a bit spaced out" can be subject to -*test*-('")s

I've been -*test*-('")ed countless times always came back negative, I'm a good boy

Stagecoach, the bus operators, have been been -*test*-('")ing staff for both drugs and alchohol for a few years now with the backing of the unions

I'm knackered then

Pee in the cup there Jim,


The problem is the cup is never big enough mine always over flows, so I bring my bsi puch with my and wear gloves when handing it to the doc