Over 1,700 drug driver convictions "wiped" after botched lab tests.
review finds positive results for cannabis use are "unsafe"
Synlab's licence has been withdrawn after a review of data finds positive results for cannabis use are "unsafe". More than 1,700 suspected drug drivers will likely be cleared after their test results were botched their test results.
Synlab's licence has been withdrawn after a review of data finds positive results for cannabis use are "unsafe". More than 1,700 suspected drug drivers will likely be cleared after their test results were botched their test results.
Police stopped the motorists between April 2019 and December 2020, who, after providing a sample to police, tested positive for illegal levels of cannabis in their bloodstream.
Officials from Synlab, who conducted the analysis, notified authorities after uncovering an issue in calculating the results. As a result, a thorough data review was executed, with 1,778 positive results now declared unsafe.
The figure is believed to incorporate some motorists who have been found guilty of driving while under the influence of cannabis and are now likely to have their convictions binned. Those waiting for their cases to come to court are now expected to be advised by the CPS that charges have been thrown out.
Whilst everyone caught up in the error would have had trace amounts of cannabis in their blood streamSynlab could not say whether they were above the two micrograms per litre of legal blood limit.
Synlab, which carries out drug drive tests for 23 police forces in England and Wales, has withdrawn its licence due to the mistake and is yet to be reinstated.
Chief Constable Nick Dean, NPCC lead on forensics, Chief Constable Nick Dean, commented "This has been a lengthy, in-depth review, which has been hugely challenging for those impacted by the results. It is regrettable whenever evidence submitted to the courts in good faith has to be withdrawn. We know that this will have significant knock-on effects on people. The CPS has been or will be contacting all those whose samples have been rescinded."Â
The CPS is currently contacting the defence in cases where there has been a conviction. The process will no doubt take time, and whether a conviction is set aside will vary depending on all the available evidence for that case.
L
Liz Filmer
