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Thursday, 30 March, 2000, 00:30 GMT 01:30 UK
Paras face sack after failing drug test
The Parachute Regiment
The Paras played a crucial part in the liberation of Kosovo
The army is set to sack five members of the Parachute Regiment after they tested positive for drugs, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

One of the soldiers, based at Aldershot in Hampshire, had traces of cocaine and the other four had used cannabis, the forces' compulsory drug testing programme found.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said the cases would be looked at individually, but usually members of the armed forces who tested positive for drug abuse were sacked.


Keith Hellawell
Keith Hellawell welcomed the Army's clampdown
Earlier this month seven members of the same regiment provided positive samples following a random drugs test.

"The bottom line is that there is zero tolerance of drug abuse in the services and we are extremely proud of our compulsory drug testing programme," a Ministry of Defence spokesman said.

"You have to bear in mind that thousands are tested every year and less than 1% prove to be positive."

'Unacceptable'

The latest drug test was ordered by Lieutenant Colonel Paul Gibson, commanding officer of 1 Para, according to The Sun newspaper.

He told the paper drug misuse was unacceptable in the Army and offenders would normally be removed from the service.

"The Parachute Regiment demands, and gets, high standards from its soldiers which are not compatible with drug misuse," Lt Col Gibson said.

"Under no circumstances will drug use be tolerated by this unit, which spends long periods at high operational readiness and has an excellent operational track record to maintain."

Drug testing in the Army was introduced in 1995, and 323,000 male and female soldiers have been tested since then.

Drugs Tsar Keith Hellawell welcomed the regiment's clampdown on drugs.

"I welcome the decisive action taken by the Army to stamp out the misuse of drugs wherever it is found," he said.

"It shows the Army's policy of using compulsory drugs testing to root out this problem isn't just a paper exercise but that they really mean business."

1 Para were at the forefront of the British Army's contribution to K-For, the Nato-led force which led the liberation of Kosovo last year.

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19 May 98 | Drugs
The drugs czar
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