Policeman joins family in court over drugs charges

By Paul Thornton

A POLICE officer has been remanded in prison over claims he breached the Official Secrets Act.

It is alleged police constable Derek McLeod, 41, abused his position to pass on sensitive information between June 3 2009 and May 12 this year.

The Lothian and Borders officer has also been charged with producing and supplying cannabis, as well as facing a charge under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

His wife Jemima, 41, and son, also Derek, 21, have been charged with producing and supplying the Class B drug, as well as having money which is suspected to be the proceeds of crime.

They, along with Mr McLeod – who was based at West Calder Police Station in West Lothian – appeared in private on petition at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Monday).

Kids found with drugs on Lothian streets

By Cara Sulieman

CHILDREN as young as 12 have been caught with illegal drugs by police in the capital.

Stop and search checks on kids hanging out on street corners found cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines and mephadrone according to figures released today.

Since the start of the year, around 100 children and young teens have been found in possession of drugs – 25 of whom were aged 15 and under.

The shocking statistics include a 12-year-old in Bathgate who was found with cannabis and a 16-year-old carrying cocaine in the city centre.

Rise in Scottish drug deaths blamed on Trainspotting generation

By Cara Sulieman

A MASSIVE hike in the number of drugs related deaths across Scotland is being blamed on the nation’s Trainspotting generation – addicts who began shooting up in the 80’s.

Shock new figures showed a rise of people in their late 30s to early 40s – mostly men – dying from the effects of years of drug use and a lack of support services for their age group.

In all drug deaths rose 26 per cent to 576.

As with previous years, the vast majority of drug users dying are men – an overwhelming 80 per cent.