Police officer drug testing 460/2025

FOI Reference: 460/2025

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:

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).

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b) The disciplinary measures resulting (e.g. final warning, dismissed, job offer withdrawn).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

Response:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

1a) Random Drug Testing on officers;

2021 Police Officer 0

2022 Police Officer 41

2023 Police Officer 16

2024 Police Officer 58

1b) With Cause Testing on officers;

2021 Police Officer 0

2022 Police Officer 0

2023 Police Officer 0

2024 Police Officer 0

1c) Pre-Employment testing

21/22 Police Officer 127

22/23 Police Officer 179

23/24 Police Officer 136

24/25 Police Officer 119

1d) – No positive Random or with cause tests.

Pre-Employment testing – positive results

21/22 Police Officer 0

22/23 Police Officer 2

23/24 Police Officer 1

24/25 Police Officer 0

2) – n/a                                              

(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 08/05/2025)