Illegal Drug Use by Police Officers: Using Research and Investigations to Inform Prevention Strategies1

Abstract

Illegal drug use by police officers is a concern in many jurisdictions. The Police Integrity Commission, an independent oversight agency in New South Wales, Australia, conducted a large-scale project on the use of illegal drugs by some NSW police officers. This project, codenamed Operation Abelia, sought to provide a better understanding of the nature of the problem of officer illegal drug use and to identify what can be done to minimise such illegal drug use. This paper outlines how research and investigations were combined to identify areas where further intervention is most likely to assist in minimising illegal drug use by officers. It also provides an overview of the Police Integrity Commission's nine-part strategy for strengthening the NSW Police Force's approach to minimising illegal drug use by its officers. The paper ends with examples of some of the policy, procedural and legislative changes that have resulted from this project.