London is drug driving capital of England and Wales

London saw more drug-driving arrests than anywhere else in England and Wales last year
Jeremy Selwyn
Robin de Peyer1 June 2016
WEST END FINAL

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More people were arrested in London for drug driving than anywhere else in England and Wales in the last year.

The Metropolitan Police made 1,636 arrests for the offence from March 2015 to April this year – almost three times the second highest total arrests made by officers in Manchester, reflecting the capital's higher population.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act showed that 7,796 people were held on suspicion of drug driving in the period. Data was supplied by 35 out of 43 police forces.

The statistics come after regulations were introduced last year to crack down on motorists who drive under the influence of drugs.

Drivers can be prosecuted if they are caught exceeding limits which were laid down for eight illegal drugs and eight prescription drugs.

The levels for the illegal drugs, which include heroin, cocaine and cannabis, virtually mean there is zero tolerance for drivers caught with these substances in their system.

With the introduction of the new law, police were issued with testing kits.

Officers can use "drugalysers" to screen for cannabis and cocaine at the roadside and they can test for these and other drugs including ecstasy, LSD, ketamine and heroin at a police station, even if a driver passes the roadside check.

The legislation was introduced to run in conjunction with a previously existing law which made it illegal to drive when impaired by any drug.

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