‘Significant capacity’ to deal with drug-driving offences, says NPCC after report claims prosecutions have fallen
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) says there is “significant capacity” to deal with drug-driving after an article in the national media claimed the number of prosecutions has fallen because of forensic backlogs.
The Daily Mail article claims that drug-driving has now become more prevalent than drink-driving but there are “four to five month delays” in processing test results.
It says figures show an average of 80 motorists are caught every day but “many may escape justice because of delays in processing blood test”.
However, the NPCC says its report referenced in the article “has not yet been officially released and cannot be sent to journalists asking for it”.
A spokesperson for the NPCC said: “We take drug-driving extremely seriously. Innocent people die on our roads every year due to the selfish actions of those who drive while intoxicated through either drink or drugs. The families and loved ones of those killed have no choice but to deal with the devasting consequences of such tragic and avoidable death.
“Since the introduction of roadside screening devices for drug-driving in 2015 we have seen an increase in prosecutions for this offence and while I am disappointed that people choose to do such a selfish and dangerous thing, I am very pleased we continue to take offenders off our roads every day.”
“There are costs associated with forensic analysis for this offence like many others and in recent years there has been pressure on the analysis capacity available to police forces which caused some delays.
“However, because of positive and proactive engagement between the NPCC and analysis providers, we have now reached a position whereby there is significant capacity available for analysis to deal with this offence.”
They added: “If you drive under while intoxicated by the use of illegal drugs there is a high probability you will be caught and prosecuted, you will lose your driving licence and those who kill or injure someone will have to live with the consequences of that for the rest of their lives, as well as possibly losing their job, their family and probably going to prison.
“The message is simple – do not drive whilst under the influence of drink or drugs, and report those who do to your local police force.”