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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of drug overdoses have been recorded at Deepcut barracks since 1995; how many arrests have been made relating to the use or supply of illegal drugs since 1995; how many random drug tests have been made, and what results they have shown, in each year since 1995; what investigations the police has conducted into the use of illegal drugs at Deepcut barracks; what conclusions they have drawn; and if he will make a statement. [124175] Mr. Caplin: Since 1995 there have been 24 incidents of self-harm overdose, involving either prescription or non-prescription drugs, recorded at Deepcut barracks. None of these involved illegal drugs. The Army does not make `arrests' in relation to the use or supply of illegal drugs; instead, cases are investigated and reported to the chain of command for disciplinary action. Since 1995 eight possible cases were recorded at Deepcut as a result of which five military personnel were charged with drug offences under the Army Act. Although Compulsory Drug Testing (CDT) was introduced throughout the Army at the end of 1995, it is not possible to break out data for individual units prior to 1999 due to the format in which the data is held. Data from CDT tests conducted at Deepcut since 1999 are as follows: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. CDT tests Personnel testing positive Percentage rate of personnel testing positive 1999 479 2 0.42 2000 1,003 13 1.30 2001 475 6 1.26 2002 985 5 0.51 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. There have been no specific police investigations, either civil or military, regards the use of illegal drugs at Deepcut Barracks.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

124175; 408 c1030W;408 c1028W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Army Drugs Deepcut Barracks Overdoses

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk