Request

Your request for information dated 2 June 2025 is copied below.

Under the Freedom of Information Act, I require the following information under the Misuse drugs Act 1971. Under this act Police Scotland should have created Controlled Drugs Liaison Officers (CDLOs).

This act is the piece of legislation which, amongst other things, outlines which drugs are 'controlled'. It also details the specific offences relating to these 'controlled' drugs across the UK, including Scotland. 

The regulation of controlled drugs is a reserved matter for the UK Government, this means Scottish Police should mirror all actions taken in regard to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971and amendments. 

The position of CDLO was defined in 2006:

“ The 2006 Health Act introduced various measures to improve public health and NHS operations, including a ban on smoking in public places, increased age for tobacco sales, and enhanced regulation of controlled drugs. It also established Controlled Drugs Liaison Officers (CDLOs) to link police and health authorities in managing controlled drugs part 3 section c 1 s 17.”

So has Police Scotland failed in their duty of candour by stating that “ CDLOs are not mandatory” (FOI 25-14945) has every other police force misinterpreted the need for CDLOs or did the SPA fail to instruct Police Scotland to perform this duty. This breakdown of policing of Controlled Drugs and the horrendously high drugs deaths in Scotland seem to be more than coincidental.

Police Scotland appears not to know its legal responsibilities and in the case of detainees actually help and assisted healthcare trusts, and especially NHS Grampian to break the law. Police Scotland did not notice that HMP Grampian and all police custody suites in most of Scotland, did not have controlled drugs licenses in place.

Does the SPA have a statutory duty to promote good policing principles and ensure compliance with legislation.