Drug-test every worker, says police chief

DRUG-TESTING should be introduced throughout Scotland's workplaces and universities, a senior police officer has suggested.

Chief Superintendent Valerie McHoull yesterday said the move would help to win the "war against drugs". The Lothian and Borders officer indicated that mandatory testing of public-sector workers would have "a significant impact on the culture and use of drugs".

Speaking yesterday to a conference of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents, of which she is president, Ms McHoull suggested voluntary drug-testing schemes should be also carried out in private companies, universities and sports clubs. The call follows a recent signal by senior police officers in Scotland to introduce drug-testing.

Ms McHoull urged Kenny MacAskill, the justice secretary, to consider "progressing" drug-testing "across the whole public sector".

She continued: "Testing across the public sector would have a significant impact on the culture and use of drugs and could even be extended to the private sector, which might be encouraged to adopt a voluntary code.

"If all organisations, both public and private, including ultimately universities and sports clubs, introduced testing, then perhaps we could make more of an impact in the war against drugs from the demand end rather than the supply. Had the private sector had mandatory, or even possibly optional, drug-testing a decade ago, then the proliferation of cocaine use amongst young professionals might have been averted."

She added: "It would take courage and I am in no doubt that there would be a strong civil-liberties argument against it, but Scotland had the courage to ban smoking in public places for the sake of the nation's health. If Scotland is to truly say no to drugs, then this measure might be a reasonable step to take."

But Matt Smith, the Scottish secretary of the public-sector union Unison, said drug-testing was too expensive and ineffective. "I think Ms McHoull is mixing up the role of law enforcement and the role of employers. All those who have looked at this issue have concluded that mandatory drug-testing is not appropriate in the workplace.

"It is unreliable … the tests only confirm that use has taken place in the past, not whether a person's ability to do the job is affected at the time."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "While we respect the argument, we are not convinced that mandatory drug-testing for all public-sector workers is a priority.

"Where drug-use is suspected, there are disciplinary procedures and policies already in place to deal with it."

BACKGROUND

FEW organisations in Scotland test their staff for illegal drugs. Those that do usually involve jobs in which safety is a major issue – for example, at nuclear power plants or on North Sea oilrigs.

However, drug-testing is being introduced in the Scottish police, and there have been sporadic calls for testing in schools.

There are two main types of drug tests, involving urine and hair. Cannabis can be detected in urine several weeks after being consumed, while others such as amphetamine and cocaine remain only for a few days. Evidence of drugs hangs around much longer in hair.

The legal position for drug testing is complicated. Employers have a justifiable interest in employees' drug use in certain circumstances.

But the principles behind the current measures also state that employees are entitled to a private life and to dignity.

Profile: 'Life on Mars' struggle of woman in man's world

WOMEN are being put off pursuing a career in the police because of a shortage of role models, according to one of the country's most senior officers.

Chief Superintendent Valerie McHoull, who yesterday became the first female president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (Asps), believes the police is still seen as a male preserve, despite strenuous efforts by the country's eight forces to encourage gender equality.

Only around 23 per cent of Scotland's 17,000 officers are female, and the country is yet to see a woman chief constable.

Chief Supt McHoull said: "I've been in the police for nearly 30 years and I've seen a fundamental difference since then.

"The only job women PCs did back then was 'children'. When I was 20, I wasn't married and I didn't know anything about children's issues. There were plenty of dads in the service who could have taken on these cases, but it didn't occur to them.

"It was regarded as obscene for women to do the night shift. And they didn't get paid the same wages.

"When I watched Life on Mars, I couldn't believe how accurate it was. Things have changed greatly, but there's still a way to go."

Ms McHoull threw herself into traditionally "male" jobs, working in the drug and murder squads at Lothian and Borders Police, investigating a raft of serious cases including the murder of five-year-old Caroline Scott, from Portobello, in 1983.

"I was the first woman in the drugs squad. It was a completely male domain. Afterwards, lots of women came in.

"There are still some areas where we have yet to get to that tipping point.

"There is possibly still a lingering perception that the police service is a male preserve. The lack of role models is definitely also an issue.

"I think we could become more flexible … to encourage more women into the service."