HC Deb 14 December 1967 vol 756 cc191-2W
8. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will issue a circular drawing the attention of chief officers of police to the need to ensure that breathalyser tests are given with the minimum publicity.

Mr. Taverne:

The police are aware of the need to avoid attracting unnecessary attention to these and other inquiries, and I do not think a circular is called for.

43. Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will call for reports from chief constables concerning the use of breathalysers over the Christmas period.

Mr. Taverne:

Chief constables provide statistics of roadside breath tests and will continue to do so over the Christmas period.

45. Mr. Berry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that in Elgin Avenue, W.9, recently, three drivers were pulled into the side and ordered to take the breathalyser test without the police officers concerned having any reason to believe that an offence under the Road Safety Act had been committed; and if he will give instructions for such random tests to be stopped forthwith in the Metropolis.

Mr. Callaghan:

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that there is no record of a breath test having been required by the police in Elgin Avenue. If the hon. Member will tell me who the complainants are, I will have further inquiries made.

54. Mr. Awdry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been stopped and given a breathalyser test under the new Road Safety Act; how many have refused a roadside test; in how many cases a second breath test in the police station proved negative; how many people were given a blood or urine test which proved negative; and how many have been prose cuted, for which the latest figures are available.

Mr. Taverne:

From 9th to 31st October inclusive, the figures for England and Wales were respectively 2,625, plus 96 in hospitals; 101 at the roadside and 6 in hospitals; 158; and 168. Statistics of prosecutions are not yet available.

55. Mr. Awdry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of those stopped and given a breath test under the new Road Safety Act under the following categories, namely, on suspicion of having committed, a traffic offence whilst the vehicle was in motion, on suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol and on being involved in a traffic acident, respectively.

Mr. Taverne:

The figures for England and Wales, for the period 9th-31st October inclusive, were respectively 1,049, 864 and 808. In addition there were three cases in which it was considered medically inadvisable for a driver involved in an accident to take the test.