An illicit drug culture exists within the ranks of the NSW Police Service with young cops found to be taking speed, cocaine and ecstasy.Now, in an unprecedented move supported by Police Commissioner Ken Moroney, cops will face random drug tests, even when they are off duty.
The radical move follows a damning report by Police Integrity Commission which found drug use was rife among police and laws need changing to stamp it out.
While allegedly most were using the drugs off-duty, some were found to be under the influence on duty, the report said.
The report, released yesterday, painted a poor picture of young cops using drugs like speed, cocaine, ketamine and marijuana.
It also found cops faking arrests as a "prelude to stealing drugs and money from drug suppliers".
The report follows Operation Abelia, in which officers admitted taking illegal drugs.
It makes 64 recommendations aimed at stamping out illicit drug use.
Mr Moroney has agreed with the PIC that targeted drug testing powers be extended to test cops while they are off-duty.
This would require changes to the Police Act of 1990 and off-duty police to be recalled for the purpose of a drug test.
Mr Moroney said he agreed with all 64 recommendations - most of which involved education policies - but he was angered that there were police still using drugs.
"I congratulate the PIC on its investigation but I am angered that some officers continue to be involved in this illegal activity," he said.
"A tough stance on the issue is the only way to rid the force of drugs."
Cops ecstasy use
A drug culture and rave party scene has infiltrated parts of the NSW Police force, with ecstasy being the most commonly used substance by cops who indulge in the illegal activities.
In the Police Integrity Commission Abelia investigation report, released yesterday, former officer, named as C4, said, at the age of 25, she would take ecstasy and speed to relax after work.
But we all know that's bullshit don't we!
"I just got a bit stressed at work. It was a bit of an escape in the fact that on the weekend, I could just go out and do what I wanted to do," she said.
But how long does the drug stay in the system? Not out of the system within the space of a shift and this would account for their shity moods and bullying on the job. Drugs can stay in the system for weeks.
Apart from the stresses of work and personal matters, other cops claimed lifestyle choices were why they took drugs. Some claimed they saw nothing wrong with what they were doing.
But how could that be while busting people for the same offence?
Officer D3, who joined the force at 19, said his girlfriend introduced him to ecstasy and he did not consider himself to be a drug user.
"Ecstasy's a type of drug you wouldn't take at home. Parties and nightclubs and that was it," he said.
Another witness said: "What I do in private is what I do in private."
But that does not make it legal and as I have said these drugs stay in the system for weeks!
The PIC report claimed that of the 15,000 police officers serving in NSW, 5000 - or a third - were under the age of 30. It also found the current drug testing methods could not detect drug use of officers while off-duty.
The inquiry heard from 21 current and former police officers and took 81 case studies of police taking drugs, dealing drugs or involved in misconduct relating to drugs.
It concluded drug use within the NSW Police was a "serious problem".
"Illegal drug use has the capacity to adversely impact on the professionalism and effectiveness of individual officers as well as the organisation as a whole, the integrity and health of the individuals concerned and the safety of colleagues and the community," it said.
"For officers to use illegal drugs means they must have obtained them through some illegal means."
By John Laws 1 October 05
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