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Nearly HALF of motorists caught drug driving in West Midlands blitz

Dozens of drivers were caught behind the wheel in the West Midlands after taking illegal drugs at Christmas, while scores more had been drinking, it was revealed today.

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More than 170 of those stopped failed a breath test or refused to give one - three times as many as the national average and a rise on the previous year.

New figures from West Midlands Police revealed:

  • 54 of the 130 drivers (41 per cent) stopped tested positive for drugs

  • 176 of the total drivers stopped (18 per cent) failed an alcohol breath test or refused to give a sample. That compared to a national average of around five per cent.

  • Drivers aged 18 to 75 were caught drink-driving, with one motorist four times the limit.

Police used mobile drug testing kits which swab saliva for the first time to enforce laws targeting those under the influence of cocaine or cannabis.

In 2014's campaign, 2,080 drivers were breathalysed, with 225 of all of those breathalysed (11 per cent) over the drink-drive limit or failing to provide a sample.

Central Motorway Police Group Chief Inspector Jed White said: "Our approach was intelligence-led and the campaign showed we were targeting the right people.

"It is never acceptable to get behind the wheel under the influence of drink or drugs - this poses a risk to others, let alone yourself.

"We always believed there was an issue with drug driving, and these roadside testing kits allowed us to see the true reality of the situation.

"The campaign may be over but our officers remain on patrol 24/7 to stop those motorists who pose a risk to the safety of road users."

  • 1,394 breath tests were carried out, with 158 drivers arrested after being found positive or refusing a breath test.

  • That was 11.3 per cent of those tested.

  • Officers carried out 40 drug tests of which 15 drivers were found positive and were arrested.

In the West Mercia Police area, 209 people either refused to give a test or tested positive. That was 3 per cent of the total number breathalysed across December, the same percentage of those failing or refusing tests last year. Also, 107 people in West Mercia failed the new roadside drugs test.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: "People who drive after drinking or taking drugs are a menace on our roads. Their actions cause harm, misery and pain.

"Cracking down on these irresponsible people not only makes our roads safer, but sends a strong message to anyone considering driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.

"Making our roads safer is a key part of my police and crime plan.

"These results show that we are serious about cracking down on drink and drug drivers."

During December, 1,888 motorists across the UK were stopped and screened for drug use, with 931 testing positive.

A change in the law last spring meant it was the first time that police officers could carry out roadside screening for illegal substances or some legal medications over the festive period.

Nationally, fewer motorists were actually tested for drink-driving - 110,226 in December 2015 compared with 133,996 in 2014.

But the proportion who tested positive for drink-driving, refused to take the test or failed to give enough breath rose - it was 5 per cent in 2015, up from 4.39 per cent the previous year.

National Police Chiefs' Council lead for roads policing Chief Constable Suzette Davenport said: "These results show that new legislation and detection devices have helped us to keep the roads safe.

"Officers across the country, using their local knowledge and intelligence to focus on high-risk locations, are better equipped than ever to catch drivers who are under the influence of drink or drugs, even at very small amounts.

"Over the last Christmas, we detected and prosecuted more people than ever who have taken the very dangerous risk of driving after taking drugs."

RAC chief engineer David Bizley said it was "worrying" that so many drivers had been caught breaking the law, and claimed there may be more than figures suggest.

He said: " If a police officer suspects that a motorist is driving under the influence of both drink and drugs, they will normally test for alcohol only because this is far cheaper and simpler than testing for illegal drugs and the penalties are similar for both offences.

"The figures published by the police for positive drug tests are therefore likely to understate the number of motorists caught when driving under the influence of drugs."

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