Driving offence that is proving 'greatest challenge' for police to catch

-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


Catching drivers at the wheel under the influence of nitrous oxide can be a "greater challenge" than those using other substances, West Midlands Police and crime commissioner has said. Concerns have been raised about the number of people driving under the influence of nitrous oxide.

Simon Foster warned regulating the offence was more difficult than drink and drug driving as the substance leaves the body quickly and he didn't believe there was a test such as a breathalyser that could be used.

Birmingham councillor Rashad Mahmood said: "We have in the past tackled drinking driving and the use of drugs whilst driving. How are we going to tackle the usage of nitrous oxide gas while driving? This has caused fatalities in the last few years. And how are we going to tackle the businesses which are selling nitrous oxide gas?"

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Mr Foster said: "Improving road safety is a top priority within this plan. You might be aware the government recently legislated, a year of so ago, in order to categorise nitrous oxide as a class C drug under the misuse of drugs act 1971.

"The use and possession of nitrous oxide has now been criminalised so to that extent the police have greater powers to take action against those people who are using or are in possession. However, in terms of being able to regulate the use of nitrous oxide by people who are driving, my understanding it's a greater challenge to do that for nitrous oxide than it is perhaps for other drink and drug driving.

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"I don't think there is a test that can be used as there can, for example, in relation to a breathalyser or blood test for drug use. There is no equivalent test available for the use of nitrous oxide. I think - and I'm not a medical expert - nitrous oxide leaves someone's system quite quickly.

"So trying to take action against individuals in those circumstances from a policing point of view is challenging. There are a number of different ways in which we can approach this. Firstly, partnership work for example with trading standards.

"Making sure, where as far as possible, that people are not managing to be able to come into possession of nitrous oxide in the first place. So you reduce the supply and availability of it. Secondly, a public health approach in terms of awareness and education.

"There are people who have been campaigning very forcefully and impactfully in terms of the potential damage people can do to themselves as a consequence of the use of nitrous oxide together with some highly publicised cases where people have suffered significant medical circumstances. There's a whole variety of different action that has to be taken. Yes, police enforcement. Yes, partnership work and yes, public health as well."