Response

Your questions are replicated below, along with our response.

I'm looking for information about how are drugs and others such as guns that have been confiscated in raids or other jobs valued? Who values it?

Regarding your question for information about how drugs and others such as guns are valued. I can confirm that the Scottish Police Authority, including Forensic Services, do not determine or hold this information. Therefore, this represents a notice in terms of Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.

To explain, Forensic Services take secure custody of items from Police Scotland that have been submitted for the purpose of forensic examination. Following forensic examination, all items are returned to Police Scotland.

To assist, I would refer you to information published by Police Scotland regarding how drugs are valued by a specialist STOP Unit (Statement of Opinion Unit).

I would also refer you to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) who may hold this information. A request can be submitted to COPFS via email using the following address - foi@copfs.gsi.gov.uk

How the courts are informed about the value and the number of drugs they have confiscated? What happens with it?

Regarding your question about how the courts are informed about the value and number of drugs they have confiscated and what happens to them. I can confirm that the Scottish Police Authority, including Forensic Services does not hold this information. Therefore, this represents a notice in terms of Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.

To assist, I would refer you to information published by Police Scotland regarding how drugs are valued by a specialist STOP Unit (Statement of Opinion Unit).

I would also refer you to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) who may hold this information. A request can be submitted to COPFS via email using the following address - foi@copfs.gsi.gov.uk

How much has been securely stored this year? How much has been reported missing?

Regarding drugs stored and reported missing, the Authority holds some information. To explain, Forensic Services take secure custody of items from Police Scotland that have been submitted for the purpose of forensic examination. All drug cases submitted for forensic analysis are receipted, stored, and returned to Police Scotland following forensic examination in line with chain of custody regulations and strict adherence to the Forensic Services Quality Management system which is accredited to United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) International Organisation for Standard (ISO) 17025.

The number of drug cases submitted to Forensic Services for forensic analysis is reported quarterly to the Authority’s Forensic Services Committee. Therefore, this represents a notice in terms of Section 25 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - the authority considers that the information is already available, therefore there is no need to provide an alternative right of access to it through FOISA.

Performance reporting over the current and previous two full financial years can be accessed from the Authority’s website, with the most recent reporting on 10 August 2023 linked for assistance, see page 11.

Of the cases submitted for forensic analysis, the Authority can confirm that Forensic Services have recorded no missing drug cases.

How the courts are informed about the value and the number of guns they have confiscated? What happens with it?

Regarding your question about how the courts are informed about the value and number of guns they have confiscated and what happens to them. I can confirm that the Scottish Police Authority, including Forensic Services does not hold this information. Therefore, this represents a notice in terms of Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.

To assist, I would refer you to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) who may hold this information. A request can be submitted to COPFS via email using the following address - foi@copfs.gsi.gov.uk

How many guns have been securely stored? How many guns have been reported missing?

Regarding guns stored and reported missing, the Authority holds some information. Forensic Services take secure custody of items from Police Scotland that have been submitted for the purpose of forensic examination. The receipt and return of firearms cases by Forensic Services is conducted in line with chain of custody regulations and strict adherence to the Forensic Services Quality Management system which is accredited to United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) International Organisation for Standard (ISO) 17025. 

Firearms cases can encompass a number of areas of firearms examination including, but not limited to;

• Ammunition examination
• Air weapon examination
• Airsoft examination
• Firearm examination
• Stun gun examination
• Irritant spray examination

Forensic Services report on firearms cases submitted for analysis quarterly to the Authority’s Forensic Services Committee. Therefore, this represents a notice in terms of Section 25 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - the authority considers that the information is already available, therefore there is no need to provide an alternative right of access to it through FOISA.

Performance reporting over the current and previous two full financial years can be accessed from the Authority’s website, with the most recent reporting on 10 August 2023 linked for assistance, see page 11.

Of the cases submitted for forensic analysis, the Authority can confirm that Forensic Services have recorded no missing firearms.