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| Drug abuse hampers Afghan police | Drug abuse hampers Afghan police |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Sixty per cent of the Afghan police in the country's southern province of Helmand use drugs, it is claimed. | Sixty per cent of the Afghan police in the country's southern province of Helmand use drugs, it is claimed. |
| The estimate, made by a UK official working in the province, was contained in emails obtained by the BBC. | The estimate, made by a UK official working in the province, was contained in emails obtained by the BBC. |
| International forces are fighting a fierce counter-insurgency campaign against Taleban militants and other insurgents in Helmand. | International forces are fighting a fierce counter-insurgency campaign against Taleban militants and other insurgents in Helmand. |
| But British officials are clearly worried about the reliability of the Afghan police. | But British officials are clearly worried about the reliability of the Afghan police. |
| "We are very concerned by the levels of drug abuse among the police," the British Foreign Office said in a statement. | "We are very concerned by the levels of drug abuse among the police," the British Foreign Office said in a statement. |
| "The police are poorly paid, do high risk work and are poorly trained. There are high levels of corruption in the police as well as drug use and supporting counter-narcotics is a key priority for the UK," it said. | |
| The training of the Afghan security forces has been a central plank in the international community's strategy to help stabilise the country. | The training of the Afghan security forces has been a central plank in the international community's strategy to help stabilise the country. |
| The unnamed British official, however, wrote in an email to the Foreign Office that drug use was "undermining security sector reform and state-building efforts as well as contributing to corruption". | The unnamed British official, however, wrote in an email to the Foreign Office that drug use was "undermining security sector reform and state-building efforts as well as contributing to corruption". |
| Helmand province produces almost two-thirds of the world's opium, which is used to manufacture heroin. | Helmand province produces almost two-thirds of the world's opium, which is used to manufacture heroin. |
| The provincial governor, Gulab Mangal, told the BBC that drug use was a "huge problem" amongst police stationed in the province. | The provincial governor, Gulab Mangal, told the BBC that drug use was a "huge problem" amongst police stationed in the province. |
| He added that steps were being taken to tackle the issue and that "at least 10" police officers had recently been dismissed after failing drugs tests. | He added that steps were being taken to tackle the issue and that "at least 10" police officers had recently been dismissed after failing drugs tests. |
| 'Pressure valve' | 'Pressure valve' |
| Drug use amongst the police is not just confined to Helmand, but is a nationwide problem, according to the emails, obtained by the BBC under a Freedom of Information Act request made to the Foreign Office.Analysts say officers turn to drugs to help relieve the stress of their jobs | Drug use amongst the police is not just confined to Helmand, but is a nationwide problem, according to the emails, obtained by the BBC under a Freedom of Information Act request made to the Foreign Office.Analysts say officers turn to drugs to help relieve the stress of their jobs |
| Of 5,320 Afghan police and recruits tested by US-led police training programmes across the country, 16% were found to be using drugs. The majority of those who tested positive had used cannabis or opium. | Of 5,320 Afghan police and recruits tested by US-led police training programmes across the country, 16% were found to be using drugs. The majority of those who tested positive had used cannabis or opium. |
| Analysts say that the drug problem in the police is higher in the southern provinces where drugs are readily available - in Kandahar province, which neighbours Helmand, 38% tested positive. | Analysts say that the drug problem in the police is higher in the southern provinces where drugs are readily available - in Kandahar province, which neighbours Helmand, 38% tested positive. |
| Police work in these areas is also highly dangerous and low paid - reasons, analysts say, for widespread drug use. | Police work in these areas is also highly dangerous and low paid - reasons, analysts say, for widespread drug use. |
| "The police are constantly under threat from the Taleban," says Abdul Ghafoor, director of the Regional Studies Centre of Afghanistan, a think-tank based in Kabul. | "The police are constantly under threat from the Taleban," says Abdul Ghafoor, director of the Regional Studies Centre of Afghanistan, a think-tank based in Kabul. |
| "To escape from the psychological pressure they often turn to drugs." | "To escape from the psychological pressure they often turn to drugs." |
| But Mr Ghafoor insists that it is vital for Afghanistan that the police act within the law. | But Mr Ghafoor insists that it is vital for Afghanistan that the police act within the law. |
| "The police are responsible for controlling drug trafficking, but if they become addicts who will control it?" | "The police are responsible for controlling drug trafficking, but if they become addicts who will control it?" |