At least 40 motorists convicted of drug-driving have been cleared after evidence of manipulation was found in the forensic testing process.
Around 10,500 test results are currently being reviewed after data was allegedly manipulated at Randox Testing Service. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) have described it as a serious breach of forensic science standards.
A further 50 cases have been dropped as a result of alleged data manipulation at the firm’s Manchester laboratory. Police have suspended all contracts with the company, which is used by 43 of the UK’s 43 forces.
Greater Manchester Police have arrested two men aged 47 and 31 who worked at one of its laboratories. They were arrested on suspicion of perverting the court of justice.
Six others have been interviewed under caution with one remaining under investigation as part of “expansive” criminal inquiry. Up to 2,700 cases have been reanalysed so far and two drug-driving cases resulted in road deaths. Two cases involving drug-driving have been sent to the Court of Appeal. One conviction was dropped, and the other has yet to be decided.
The investigation has found that around 3% of cases that have been reanalysed have been dropped or overturned. All of these were brought over drug-driving allegations. Retesting is expected to continue into December 2019 and has been slower than expected to partly due to an existing shortage of forensic testers.
Mr Vaughan (Chief Constable) said: “We have a perfect storm of a chronically saturated market, now you have one less accredited provider in the market and now you have 10,500 new cases for retesting.”
