HC Deb 22 March 1989 vol 149 c599W
Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the decision to review 742 drink-driving convictions in Greater Manchester after the use there of alcohol-impregnated swabs in taking blood tests and the possible review of 1,117 further cases.

Mr. John Patten

Between March 1987 and December 1988, police stations in the Greater Manchester police area were issued with blood sampling kits in which the alcohol-free swabs had been replaced by the stores department of the force with swabs acquired from an independent source. It was later found that these locally substituted swabs contained a solution with a very small percentage of alcohol. The blood analysis results in a number of these cases may therefore have been affected. At present, there are known to be a total of 742 cases in which prosecution was based on the results of the blood sample; together with a total of 729 cases in which prosecution was based solely on breath test evidence. In addition, there are a further 388 cases where it is not yet possible to say into which category they fall.

I am arranging to review as quickly as possible the convictions in all those cases in which prosecution was based on the results of the blood sample, and I will also consider representations from individuals who believe that they were wrongly convicted. Each case will be considered on its merits.

Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his estimates of the costs to public funds of(a) reviewing 742 drink-driving convictions after use by Greater Manchester police of alcohol-impregnated swabs in taking blood tests and (b) the possible review of 1,117 further cases arising from the mistake.

Mr. John Patten

Our present estimate is that the cost to the Home Office is likely to be of the order of £36,000. This figure may be subject to revision when fuller details of the cases are available.