Training for Officers on Illegal Drugs

Keywords

Training, Drugs, Recruits, Serving, Heroin, School, Legislation, Powers, Controlled, Substances, Physiological, Effects, Anecdotally, Staff, Facsimile, Scenarios, Student, Paraphernalia, Environment, College.

Publication Number

PUB 1414

FOI Reference Number

16945

Request Title

Training for Officers on Illegal Drugs

Date Range

N/A

Information Requested

1. Apart from legislation, such as the Misuse of Drugs Act, I am seeking information on what training new recruits / serving officers receive about illegal drugs. For example, they will know that Heroin is illegal, but what training are they given about heroin as a drug (and other drugs)?

2. Could you please also provide the contact details for your Training School?

Disclosure with Exemptions

Full Disclosure

Information Correct as at

20 April 2022

Date of Disclosure

05 May 2022

Related Documents/Links

N/A

FOI 16945 Response

Having completed enquiries within Essex Police in respect of Section 1(1)(a), Essex Police does hold information relating to your request, Essex Police can confirm in respect of Section 1(1)(b) the following data:

Caveat: The data is correct as at 20/04/2022.

1. Apart from legislation, such as the Misuse of Drugs Act, I am seeking information on what training new recruits / serving officers receive about illegal drugs. For example, they will know that Heroin is illegal, but what training are they given about heroin as a drug (and other drugs)?

The police training focuses almost exclusively on legislation and powers with regard to controlled substances. There is little or no input on the physiological effects of such substances other than those provided anecdotally by training staff. Drug boxes and facsimile substances are used in practical scenarios to assist student officers in recognising a variety of controlled substances and associated paraphernalia in a ‘real world’ environment.

2. Could you please also provide the contact details for your Training School?

Essex Police College, 48 St Margaret's Rd, Springfield, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 6DT. The non-emergency telephone contact for Essex Police is 101.

You may find the below link of interest:

Policing drugs | College of Policing