Drug testing trialled in East Anglia

Norfolk and Suffolk constabularies are the latest forces to test drivers for cannabis use.

They are trialling drugs testing kits that can analyse mouth swabs for traces of cannabis.

The devices, which are manufactured by the German firm Dräger, will be used at the six police investigation centres across both counties.

Norfolk and Suffolk are among 12 forces nationally using the equipment. They used the device for the first time on June 4 as part of the summer crackdown on drink and drug-driving.

Drug testing kits are being introduced as a result of changes to the Crime and Courts Act 2013 to include a new drug-driving offence similar to current drink-driving legislation.

Roadside drug testing kits are also to be introduced to help enforce the new law, however, these will be used only as preliminary screening device to help police assess whether a driver’s condition might be due to presence of drugs. Under current legislation there will be no prosecution of drivers caught by the new devices. North Yorkshire Police was the first force to begin trialling roadside test kits in December.

Chief Inspector Chris Spinks, head of the joint Norfolk and Suffolk roads policing unit, said the equipment would help simplify the process of securing evidence for drug-driving prosecutions.

Currently, officers carry out a field impairment test at the roadside to check if a driver is under the influence of drugs.