Report Summary
Issued 20 August 2025, this FOI response advises that information on Controlled Drugs Liaison Officers is not held by the Scottish Police Authority.
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Request
Your request for information dated 4 August 2025 is copied below.
Under the Freedom of Information Act, I request the following information:
1) When did the Scottish Government know that NHS Grampian and other Scottish healthcare trusts not have controlled drugs licenses for over a decade, and NHS Grampian also did not have one for HMP Grampian for at least 6 years. Yet still gave prisoners access to methadone?
2) Why does NHS Grampian not audit their controlled held drugs in police custody? Is this a Scottish Act of Parliament.
3) Why does the Scottish Government allow NHS Grampian to store Dihydrocodeine in police custody and give it without consent, or prescriptions to detainees.
4) Which authorities are responsible for monitor and enforcing controlled drugs licenses. Why were the missing licenses not identified.
5) Why does the Scottish Government allow controlled drugs accountable officers (CDAOs) in NHS Grampian and other Scottish healthcare trusts not set up local intelligence networks ( LINs) in the regions. Does Scotland have an exemption from these regulations.
6) Why does Police Scotland believes that the role of controlled drugs liaison officers are not statutory despite:
“ 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.”
Why, does Police Scotland believe it is exempt from the regulations.
7) Who is responsible for establishing LINs and how often should they meet.
8) Is the CDLO an important element in the LIN.
9) Why did Police Scotland tell SPICe, that they had an unofficial CDLO (DS Craig Bookless) who as since taken up another position, but Police Scotland are looking to create a CDLO soon. What is the Scottish Government view of the status of CDLOs do they exist or not, are the voluntary or official post.
