Royal Artillery soldiers face dismissal after positive drugs test as army reinforces 'zero tolerance' policy
Four soldiers from the same unit face dismissal after failing drugs tests in the same week.
The disgraced troops from 12 Regiment Royal Artillery failed compulsory drugs tests. The Army confirmed applications for the discharge of all four soldiers will be made.
Officials refused to reveal the ranks or identity of the soldiers - citing data privacy rules - but warned military personnel who take drugs will be "dealt with accordingly".
The Army has recently reinforced the zero-tolerance policy on drug taking after criticism it was allowing soldiers to carry on serving after recording a positive result.
Last year it was revealed new recruits would not be dismissed if they were found to have used drugs within their first 14 weeks of training. The rules came amid a chronic shortage of new personnel to the armed forces.
A spokesman at the time insisted there had been "no relaxation of the longstanding zero-tolerance policy on drug misuse" for trained soldiers.
Soldiers had also been allowed to continue their service after a positive drugs test in exceptional circumstances.
The Telegraph understands that only three per cent of soldiers that had failed drugs tests were considered to have met this threshold and were not discharged.
However, earlier this month it was announced that any soldier caught taking drugs, including those under training, would be discharged and barred from re-enlisting or joining the reserves.
Speaking earlier this month Gavin Williamson, the Defence Secretary, said: "The misuse of illegal drugs can cause terrible damage to people’s lives and the purchase of them fuels organised crime, both in the UK and across the globe.
“The use of such substances is incompatible with military service and has no place in our Armed Forces.
“A zero-tolerance approach to illegal drugs is the only way to ensure those high standards are maintained across our world-class military.”
Colleagues of the Royal Artillery personnel, based at Baker Barracks on Thorney Island, near Chichester, West Sussex, are understood to be furious at their behaviour.
One soldier, who has served in the Army for more than a decade but asked not to be named, said: "There is no place for drugs in a military environment. "How can you trust someone to watch your back when he might be off his face on drugs?
"I think the services has it right – dismissal."
An Army spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that four service personnel from 12 Regiment Royal Artillery have failed a compulsory drugs test.
"The Ministry of Defence has a strict policy of compulsory drug testing, which reinforces the message that drug use is wholly unacceptable among service personnel.
"This is a clear indication that for those within the military that do not adhere to its values and standards when caught will be dealt with accordingly."
The army tests around 100,000 soldiers every year for drug misuse. Historically between one and three per cent prove positive.
In 2016 of 93,830 tests, 770 were positive for cocaine (550), ecstasy (80), cannabis (160), benzo (10), steroids (30), ketamine (10) and amphetamine (10). The Army subsequently discharged 650 soldiers.
