Former chief constable warns 'substantial shortfall' will continue into this year
Testing motorists for drug driving exhausted the police forensic science budget within six months of the last financial year.
The former chief constable has blamed the high cost of the drug wipe process – which tests for cocaine and cannabis – and says the ‘substantial shortfall’ will continue into this year.
Drug wipe testing was introduced in January 2022 following a change in the law – wipes cost £16 each and subsequent blood tests, for those who test positive, are around £600.
In his final annual report, which has now been published, Gary Roberts says the law brought in does not allow urine to be taken which would be a cheaper alternative.
No extra financial provision was given to the Isle of Man Constabulary to deal with the new legislation and the courts do not order the full repayment of the costs by those convicted.
Mr Roberts added: "At one level it indicates, as I have suggested before, that cannabis use is endemic and it also shows that those who use drugs before and while driving either completely fail to see the risks that they pose to other road users, or that they see them but do not care."
You can find the 2022/2023 Chief Constable’s Annual Report HERE.
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