Falzon, D, Aston, EV, Carver, H, Masterton, W, Wallace, B, Sumnall, H, Measham, F, Fletcher, E, Gittins, R, Priyadarshi, S and Parkes, T (2022) Challenges for drug checking services in Scotland: a qualitative exploration of police perceptions. Harm Reduction Journal, 19. ISSN 1477-7517

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Abstract

Background
The impact of policing practices on the engagement of people who use drugs (PWUD) with harm reduction services is well evidenced. Although the police have traditionally taken an enforcement role in responding to drug use, it is increasingly clear that they can play an important part in multiagency delivery of harm reduction interventions. Despite this, there have been no studies exploring police officer perceptions of drug checking services (DCS), which provide analytical testing of client drug samples alongside harm reduction support and advice.
Methods
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 police officers to explore the policing and legal challenges which could be encountered in the delivery of DCS in Scotland.
Results
Participants expressed general support for DCS and described this support as part of a wider organisational shift towards public health-oriented policing. Participants also discussed different potential approaches to the policing of areas surrounding DCS including: formal limits on police presence around the service and/or stop and search powers in relation to personal possession; the effective decriminalisation of personal possession within a specified boundary around the service; and informal agreements between local divisions and DCS outlining expected policing practices. Any formal limitation on the capacity of police officers to respond to community concerns was viewed as problematic and as having the potential to erode public confidence in policing. Participants also highlighted the potential for frontline officers to utilise discretion in ways which could undermine public health goals. Legislative change, or national strategic guidance from relevant stakeholders, was seen as a means of providing 'cover', enabling local divisions to support the operation of drug checking.
Conclusions
Despite a small sample of participants, this study summarises key challenges to be addressed in the implementation and operation of DCS in Scotland, and more widely. The paper concludes with suggested opportunities to develop approaches to policing that can facilitate rather than impede implementation and operation of these services.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Humans; Substance-Related Disorders; Harm Reduction; Public Health; Law Enforcement; Police; Pharmaceutical Services; Community based; Criminalisation; Drug checking; Drug use; Harm reduction; Policing; Public health; Qualitative; Scotland; Stop and search; Harm Reduction; Humans; Law Enforcement; Pharmaceutical Services; Police; Public Health; Substance-Related Disorders; 1117 Public Health and Health Services; Substance Abuse
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology > HV7231 Criminal Justice Administrations > HV7551 Police. Detectives. Constabulary
Divisions:	Public Health Institute
Publisher:	Biomed Central
SWORD Depositor:	A Symplectic
Date Deposited:	03 Oct 2022 09:58
Last Modified:	03 Oct 2022 10:00
DOI or ID number:	10.1186/s12954-022-00686-6
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/17701

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