OSCR dismisses concern raised about Dogs Against Drugs’ charitable status

THE SCOTTISH charity regulator OSCR has confirmed that it will not make further inquiries after receiving concern about the work of the Dogs Against Drugs charity.

Local resident Donna Schofield had raised the concern with the regulator saying she believed Dogs Against Drugs was failing in its objective of disrupting the illegal drug trade in the isles and should therefore not be allowed to raise funds as a charity.

“Proof that Dogs Against Drugs is effective would be fewer deaths and fewer busts,” Schofield told OSCR.

“If I failed at my goals, I would be held accountable by charity law, and I don’t understand how they can raise money for a cause they failed at,” she added.

But in a statement issued late on Tuesday the regulator said it had decided not to make inquiries.

A spokesperson said: “Following our assessment of a concern we received, we have now concluded that there are no regulatory matters that require us to make inquiries into the charity.”

OSCR gave no details of the nature of its assessment. Dogs Against Drugs said had not been contacted by the regulator.

Schofield did not respond to a request for comment made by Shetland News, but she had earlier said that she wanted to stimulate local debate about problematic drug use in the community.

Speaking earlier this week, Dogs Against Drugs project manager Michael Coutts said he welcomed the idea of stimulating public debate.

But he said: “Dogs Against Drugs can never be the entire solution to the illegal drugs issues on the island”.

Coutts added that the charity had been underfunded by the Scottish Government “for over a decade”.

Dogs Against Drugs respond after being reported to charity regulator