§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people have been stopped by police for speaking on a mobile phone while driving since 1 September 2003; [162084]
(2) what percentage of people stopped by police for speaking on a mobile phone while driving have been cautioned. [162085]
§ Caroline FlintInformation on the number of people stopped by the police for speaking on a mobile phone while driving is not collected centrally.
The specific offence of driving while using a hand held mobile phone came into effect on 1 December 2003. Use of a hands free mobile phone is not an offence.
Formal cautions are rarely given for motoring offences. Data on police action (written warnings, fixed penalty notices and court proceedings) for the new offence of driving while using a hand held mobile telephone will not be available until the autumn of 2004.