The union representing police officers in Scotland has accused Police Scotland of “exaggerating” and making “far-fetched” claims about lives saved from overdoses. The Scottish Police Federation has refused to acknowledge the claimed success of Naloxone, which the force insists has saved 100 Scots from overdose deaths.
The Federation has been against officers carrying Naloxone nasal sprays from the outset, laying down to a pilot programme that led to 4,000 kits being distributed to officers. The union has itself received flak for its response from campaigners, who believe all emergency personnel would be equipped to save a life if the chance arises.
Police Federation chairman David Hamilton said: “To suggest that 100 lives have been saved as a consequence of police carrying naloxone would imply that 100 would have been lost if they hadn’t. Given that neither we nor Police Scotland have been able to attribute a single UK death as a consequence of police not carrying naloxone, this claim is at best far fetched.
