Drug-drive convictions to be quashed over botched tests

ALMOST 1,800 suspected drug drivers are likely to be cleared after a laboratory botched their test results.

The motorists were stopped by police between April 2019 and December 2020 and, after providing a sample, tested positive for an illegal level of cannabis in their bloodstream.

However, Synlab Laboratory Service, the private company that carried out test analysis, found a problem in the way results were calculated.

A review of the data was carried out and 1,778 positive drug results have now been declared unsafe.

The figure is thought to include some motorists who have already been found guilty of driving while under the influence of cannabis and who are now likely to have their convictions quashed.

Others, who were waiting for their cases to come to court, are now expected to be informed by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) that proceedings have been dropped.

All those caught up in the blunder had traces of cannabis in their system but Synlab was unable to say for certain whether they were over the legal limit of two micrograms per litre of blood.

Synlab, which once carried out drug-drive tests for 23 police forces in England and Wales, had its licence withdrawn after the mistake was discovered and it has not been reinstated.

The review of the test results was carried out by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and included representatives from the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, the Forensic Science Regulator, the Home Office and the CPS.

Chf Con Nick Dean, the NPCC lead on forensics, said: “The CPS has been or will be contacting all those whose samples have been rescinded.”

A CPS spokesman said: “Following the conclusion of the review into Synlab’s drug testing results between April 2019 and December 2020 we are contacting the defence in cases where there was a conviction.

“This process will take time and whether a conviction is set aside will be different in each case depending on all the available evidence.”