Notts Police to clamp down on drug drivers after succesful pilot scheme in Worksop

New laws came into effect in 2015 which meant people can be guilty of an offence even if their ability to drive is not obviously impaired as a result of drug taking.

Since then, Nottinghamshire Police force has been working with various agencies and tests that have come on to the market to make sure the county’s roads are as “safe as can be”.

Superintendent Claire Rukas, Head of Operational Support, said: "We have been working with the drug tests since the laws came into place and are now in a position where we are widening our use of them and have officers trained up to oversee their usage in each force area.

"I want drug users to know that if they get behind a wheel, there is a very strong possibility they will get caught. Drug driving has absolutely devastating consequences, and more often than not, it's people who are completely innocent that get caught in the firing line.

"Clearly we want to eradicate the use of illegal drug taking completely, but this is about making Nottinghamshire's roads as safe as we can.

“It is vitally important to increase the use of the tests across the county in order to take more dangerous drivers off the road."

In April and May last year, 29 people drivers were drug tested at the roadside leading to 23 arrests. That compares to April and May this year where 47 people were tested resulting in 33 arrests.

As well as the new drug tests, police can also make you carry out a ‘field impairment assessment’ if they think you are on drugs. Which is series of tests, including asking you to walk in a straight line.

Police Constable Matthew Storor has been spearheading the project in Worksop. He said: “The results have been exceptional. In the first batch of 10 tests we rolled out at the beginning of May, we got eight positive tests and two negatives.

"We want to send the message out there that if people drive under the influence of drugs, we will pursue you. It is our mission to make the roads as safe as can be.

"As a local response team, we also encourage people to report drug drivers to us and we then take the appropriate action. We want to get drug drivers banned and off the roads."

The recent trial was a partnership between the force and the Worksop Neighbourhood Team, with funding from Bassetlaw District Council.

Councillor Simon Greaves, Leader of Bassetlaw District Council added: “Taking drivers under the influence of drugs off our roads can only be a good thing and I am glad that we have been able to support the Police in making Bassetlaw’s roads safer for everybody.”

As well as working with partners to gain funding, the force has increased the spending budget on the tests this financial year.