An Oldham police officer has been sacked for failing a roadside test for cocaine.

The officer was fired after failing the test during the afternoon on Thursday, July 18.

Greater Manchester Police said Chief Constable Stephen Watson had already overseen the dismissal of 94 officers since joining the force three years ago.

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In a post on X (formerly Twitter) the force said: “We’ve sacked an officer this afternoon for failing a roadside test for cocaine as we continue to root out and boot out those not fit to wear police uniform.”

When asked for additional comment, a force spokesperson confirmed the police officer was "based in Oldham" and said more information would be published on GMP’s website "in due course".

The news comes on the same day an "explosive" report into how women are treated in custody was published by Greater Manchester Police.

The report was prompted after three separate women accused Greater Manchester Police of unjustified strip searches after being arrested.

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This month, it was announced that the force’s handling of a review into historic childhood sexual abuse will be investigated.

Greater Manchester Police will be probed by the same body which placed it in special measures back in 2020.

In 2022, Greater Manchester Police was removed from ‘special measures’ after 22 months – the fastest this had ever been done.

The force found itself in "special measures" in December 2020 after failing to record 80,000 crimes, with Chief Constable Stephen Watson vowing it would get better.

Cocaine is a class A drug under UK law, with possession carrying a maximum of seven years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.

Those caught supplying or producing the drug can face life in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.

Under the law, those caught driving under the influence of drugs can face a driving ban, prison, and a fine.

Those caught driving with an excess of 10 micrograms of cocaine per litre of blood in their body are committing an offence.

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