Almost 7,000 troops have been booted out of the Armed Forces for taking drugs over the last eight years
ALMOST 7,000 troops have been booted out of the Armed Forces for taking drugs over the last eight years, figures show.
The Army alone is sacking about 500 soldiers — the size of a battalion — every year.
Infantry regiment The Rifles has one of the worst records, with at least 151 failing compulsory drugs tests between 2017 and 2025.
Ministry of Defence figures showed cocaine was by far the most popular drug used, followed by cannabis and ecstasy.
Former commander Colonel Richard Kemp said: 'Most who take illegal drugs do so on leave outside the military environment, often under pressure from mates back home.
"But there is no place for drug abuse in the Armed Forces.'
The MoD said tests ensured 'maximum deterrence.'
An MoD spokesperson: 'Substance abuse is unacceptable in the Armed Forces and we have run the Armed Forces Compulsory Drug Testing (AFCDT) Programme since January 1995.
'We robustly enforce a zero tolerance policy to drug use by all those who serve and provide an education programme to inform all personnel of the dangers and consequences of substance misuse.
'We maintain a comprehensive programme of compulsory random drug testing to ensure maximum deterrence.
"Anyone found to have misused drugs faces severe consequences, including discharge from service.'
British soldier appears to snort suspicious white substance in video published to social media
1
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
21 minutes ago
- BBC News
Peterborough flat drugs raid sees two people arrested
Two people have been arrested following an early morning drugs raid in a city Police officers forced their way in to the property on Oxford Road in Millfield, Peterborough, on Friday, and found money and wraps of class A drugs. The raid was carried out after concerns of drug dealing were raised by residents.A man and a woman, in their 20s, were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, the force confirmed. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Sun
23 minutes ago
- The Sun
Fears grow for schoolboy, 15, not seen in 3 months as grandma begs ‘take a close look at his photo'
COPS are becoming "increasingly concerned" about a missing teenager who vanished three months ago. The family of Prince Watson have urged people not to "think twice" about getting in contact with any information. 1 Releasing a photo of the 15-year-old from Ealing in West London, his grandmother said: "We are so worried about him." Prince was last seen at around 4pm on Saturday, March 15 in Friern Barnet. Cops said he may have been seen by friends in Hanwell since then. The teenager also has links to The Hyde, Colindale, Southall and Romford. He is 5"5 and slim, last seen wearing a black jacket with grey joggers. Prince's grandmother said: 'We love and miss Prince dearly and are so worried about him. "Please take a close look at the photo we are making public today, and don't think twice about getting in touch if you have any information.' PC Ben Norris, from the Met 's West Area Missing Persons unit, added: 'We are growing increasingly concerned about Prince's wellbeing. "Although we have been carrying out a number of enquiries in an effort to find him, we now need the public's support in bringing him home.' If you see Prince, please call 999 and quote the reference 2409/07JUNE. Alternatively, information can be reported to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Telegraph
37 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Commuters who appeal against penalty fares risk criminal record
Yet those who formally dispute an inspector's view of the notoriously complex web of British train ticketing rules could now find themselves with a criminal record if they stand up for what they believe is right. Paul Goldspring, the Chief Magistrate, said in a written ruling dated February 21, which has not previously been published: 'I rule that criminal prosecutions can be brought following a penalty fare appeal being dismissed…' The judge said he had been given 'an undertaking that all [Department for Transport Train Operating Companies] will follow the guidance given by the court'. Fines of up to £1,000 and, for repeat offenders, prison sentences of up to three months can result from a conviction for failing to produce a ticket or travelling with intent to avoid payment. A conviction under the Regulation of Railways Act 1889 will appear on DBS background checks, potentially affecting someone's job prospects. Campaigners fear that Judge Goldspring's ruling has given train companies a green light to threaten honest but mistaken commuters with a criminal record as the price of challenging ticket inspectors. 'Sham of an appeal system' Christian Waters, 47, of Leeds, who was targeted for prosecution in 2022 after having his penalty fare appeal rejected, said: 'Why was this ruling not published, given it affects the protection that hundreds of thousands of passengers would assume they had from the regulations? Mr Waters, whose case was dropped after he realised that Northern, the government-owned rail company, had broken the rules by trying to haul him in front of a judge, said: 'I do feel like they are saying I got off on a technicality now. I still dispute that I did anything wrong; their machine was not working!' 'No one has any protection at all, a sham of an appeal system and then money [is] demanded backed up by criminal law,' he continued. The unpublicised Westminster magistrates' court ruling came about after another government-owned train company, Southeastern, asked the court if a number of previous prosecutions it brought were lawful. The exact number was not revealed in the judgment. 'It is clearly irrational that a person who brought an unmeritorious appeal could not be prosecuted, whereas someone who did not appeal could be,' ruled Judge Goldspring. While an out-of-court appeals process exists for penalty fares, Parliament never intended commuters to be criminalised when it created the scheme some 35 years ago. Introducing the 1988 law that created penalty fares, Tory peer Lord Marshall of Leeds told Parliament: 'If, however, a passenger on a train is not in possession of a ticket, he is not to be treated as a criminal under this Bill. He is simply asked to pay a penalty fare, which is a civil penalty and not a criminal one.' Today, Regulation 11(3) of the Railways (Penalty Fares) Regulations 2018 says that prosecution is only allowed where the penalty has been cancelled by the train company before the appeal panel has decided the outcome. Yet in his February 2025 ruling, Judge Goldspring said: 'The prosecutor obviously should not bring a prosecution if it is excluded,' but added: 'There is no obligation on the court to investigate whether the defendant has a defence.' 'This must be dealt with in a balanced manner' Penalty fare appeals are decided by a private company called Appeal Services, which is a contractor paid by train companies to decide penalty fare appeals. According to Appeal Services' website, in the last 28 days, its assessors rejected 80 per cent of first-stage appeals. A Department for Transport spokesperson said: 'Deliberate fare-dodging costs the taxpayer up to £400 million annually – money which could be better spent on improving passenger experience. 'This must be dealt with in a balanced manner, which is why Great British Railways will bring operators together to establish oversight and better standardise practices, putting an end to inconsistent prosecutions and making sure passengers are treated fairly. 'We're working at pace to simplify ticketing as part of our rail reforms, to alleviate confusion and make it easier for people to buy the right fare.'
