UK Drug Drive Arrests More Than Double in Last Four Years: New Research shows huge increase in arrests
- New data shows, on average, a 113% rise in arrests for drug driving since 2016
- Research and advocacy organisation Volteface surveyed all police forces in the UK
- Of those that responded, most showed a large rise in arrests
- It’s prompted calls for a better and more reliable roadside testing system
- There are fears medical cannabis patients are being unfairly criminalised
New research has revealed a huge rise in the number of arrests for drug driving in the UK. An investigation by research and advocacy organisation Volteface has uncovered new data which reveals, on average, a 113% rise in arrests for drug driving from 2016 until 2020. The research also found arrests for driving under the influence of cannabis have increased by an average of 148%. The rise shows no signs of slowing down, with data for 2020/21 also showing an uptick in arrests. Volteface asked every police force in the UK for the total number of arrests since 2016, and received responses from 30 of the 47 surveyed (63%).
In some areas such as Essex, Wiltshire and Lancashire, arrests for drug driving more than tripled, with arrests more than doubling in areas such as London, Bedfordshire and Cleveland. The data has raised concerns over the effectiveness of the current roadside testing system used by police, especially the way in which officers test drivers for cannabis. The research showed, on average, arrests for driving under the influence of cannabis more than doubled between 2016 and 2020, with arrests by the Metropolitan Police Force alone rising by 166%.
With thousands accessing medical cannabis via private and NHS prescriptions since it became legal in 2018, there are real concerns this huge rise in arrests is leading to patients being unfairly criminalised. Currently, roadside police tests for cannabis use saliva to detect levels of THC in a person’s system. This test often leads to unfair results as THC can be detected long after its effects have worn off. The accuracy of the test depends on how often people use cannabis, with the test being less effective the more regularly a person consumes the drug. This means medical cannabis patients, who often take their medicine on an evening, face being unfairly penalised the following day.
A recent two year RCT study in JAMA psychiatry showed that THC impairment takes place at significantly lower levels than is being detected by current police testing systems.
Paul North, Director at Volteface said: “This huge rise in drug driving arrests is concerning. Whilst this is an important issue for police, I’m afraid the way they’re testing for these drugs is no longer viable or fair. When it comes to cannabis, the latest research shows its effects on the body have worn off long before these tests can pick up traces of it. This means sadly, the danger of criminalisation is a real threat for those using the drug legally to treat painful and complex conditions such as IBS, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and fibromyalgia. As well as a criminal record, these patients face losing their jobs or being drawn to more dangerous and less detectable drugs, such as opioids.”
Lyphe Group, a UK leader in the supply of medical cannabis care and medicine, is voicing concerns on behalf of its patients. The company agrees a more accurate and comprehensive testing system is needed.
Jonathan Nadler, CEO of LYPHE Group said: “Our patients come to us suffering from painful and often debilitating conditions. The last thing they need is to fear being criminalised for accessing their medicine, which has now been legal in the UK for over three years. It is disgraceful to think our medical cannabis patients face being arrested or are at risk of losing their jobs due to unfair and outdated testing methods.”
Biotechnology company Bloonics are also joining calls for a radical overhaul of the roadside testing system. They’ve come up with revolutionary new technology which they say will more accurately measure impairment levels and will be able to be used by police at the roadside. Their technology will be able to estimate when a person has taken cannabis and calculate the probability they’re still impaired.
Lex Beresnev, Co-Founder of Bloonics said: “We cannot, in good conscience as a society, allow outdated cannabis testing to impose such dangerous and unfair consequences onto medical patients. This research is highly concerning, as it highlights the potentially high volume of patients who face being stopped and arrested by police in the UK.
“Our innovative LuciX Technology will more accurately detect levels of THC (and associated cannabinoids) as well as active impairment. Easily usable outside of a laboratory environment, police forces and workplaces will be able to fairly screen for impairment. We truly believe we have the answer to ending the unfair criminalisation of cannabis patients world wide.”
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NOTES TO EDITOR
Full data sets, including regional data, available upon request
Interviews available upon request
Patient case study available on request
For further information and to arrange interviews please contact Lisa Darvill on 07818813329 / lisa@volteface.me or Paul North on 07825758512 / paul@volteface.me
Volteface is an independent research and advocacy organisation, that seeks to reduce the harm drugs pose to individuals and society, through evidence-based policy reform