Soldiers sacked over drug taking

The members of the Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland tested positive during a random test this month.

Army bosses have not disclosed the nature of the drugs identified, or the ranks of those who failed.

A total of 441 soldiers took part in the 5 February test at the Borderers' Dreghorn Barracks in Edinburgh.

The Army has a zero-tolerance policy towards drug-taking, with the majority of soldiers found to be taking them instantly dismissed.

"The Army recruits largely from urban areas so it inherits the problems these areas have themselves"
Gordon MacKenzie
Defence analyst

An army spokesman said: "Ten people from the 1st Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland failed compulsory drugs tests.

"They are all being discharged and have either gone or will be gone by early next week."

Defence analyst Gordon MacKenzie, who was formerly an officer with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, said: "Drug-taking in the services is a problem up to a point.

"The Army recruits largely from urban areas across Britian so it inherits the problems these areas have themselves.

"The Army's zero tolerance policy is an attempt to make sure it doesn't interfere with operations or the behaviour of army personnel."

He said there was "a fraction of leeway" for those caught with drugs in their system.

'Way out'

"That leeway depends on the discretion of the officers involved," he said.

"But a positive test nearly always means you're on your way out."

There are more than 700 soldiers in the 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

The drug tests happened a week before video footage of soldiers from the Borderers was published apparently showing them snorting a white powder.

After investigating the footage last week, army bosses said it now appeared the incident had been a practical joke.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
The Army
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites