Written question asked by David Evennett (Conservative) on Thursday, 12 June 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 16 June 2008. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 June 2008 on behalf of the Home Office.

Drugs: Greater London

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mobile equipment each police force operating in the Greater London area uses to test for the presence of illegal drugs.

Answer: As regards drivers suspected of being impaired by drugs, I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 11 June 2008, Official Report, column 342W. As regards other drug testing, the Drug Interventions programme (DIP) uses drug screening equipment situated in designated police custody suites as authorised under legislation. Of police forces operating in London, only the Metropolitan and City of London Police conduct DIP tests, the British Transport Police do not. Information is not collected centrally on any other tests the police may conduct for the presence of drugs, or any equipment which they use.

Secondary information