The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Codes of Practice) (Modifications to Code C and Code D) (Certain Police Areas) Order 2002

1.  In Code C,

(1) after paragraph 1.5, insert the following:

“1.5A   If anyone appears to be under the age of 18 then he shall be exempt from drug testing under section 17 of this code in the absence of clear evidence to show that he is older.”; and

(2) after section 16, insert the following:

“17.   Testing persons for the presence of specified Class A drugs

(a) Action

17.1   A sample of urine or a non-intimate sample may be taken from a person in police detention for the purpose of ascertaining whether he has any specified Class A drug in his body if:

(a) that person has been charged with a trigger offence, or

(b) he has been charged with any offence and a police officer of inspector rank or above, who has reasonable grounds for suspecting that the misuse by that person of any specified Class A drug caused or contributed to the offence, has authorised the sample to be taken.

17.2   The person from whom the sample is taken must have attained the age of 18.

17.3   A police officer must have requested the person concerned to give the sample.

17.4   Before requesting a sample from the person concerned, an officer must:

(a) inform him that the purpose of taking the sample is for drug testing under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. This is to ascertain whether he has a specified Class A drug present in his body;

(b) warn him that if, when requested, he fails without good cause to provide a sample he may be liable to prosecution;

(c) where the taking of the sample has been authorised by an inspector or above under paragraph 17.1(b) of this code, inform him that the authorisation has been given and the grounds for giving it;

(d) remind him of the following rights, which may be exercised at any stage during the period in custody:

(i) the right to have someone informed of his arrest [see section 5];

(ii) the right to consult privately with a solicitor and the fact that independent legal advice is available free of charge [see section 6]; and

(iii) the right to consult these codes of practice [see Note 3E].

17.5   Authorisation by an officer of the tank of inspector or above may be given orally or in writing, but if it is given orally it must be confirmed in writing as soon as practicable.

17.6   Custody officers may authorise continued detention for up to six hours from the time of charge to enable a sample to be taken.

(b) Documentation

17.7   If a sample is taken following authorisation by an officer of the rank of inspector or above, the authorisation and the grounds for suspicion must be recorded in the custody record.

17.8   The giving of a warning on the consequences of failure to provide a specimen must be recorded in the custody record.

17.9   The time of charge and the time at which the sample was given must be recorded in the custody record.

(c) General

17.10   A sample may only be taken by a prescribed person.

17.11   Force may not be used to take any sample for the purpose of drug testing.

17.12   The terms “Class A drug” and “misuse” have the same meanings as in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. “Specified” (in relation to a Class A drug) and “trigger offence” have the same meanings as in Part Ill of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000.

17.13   Any sample taken:

(a) may not be used for any purpose other than to ascertain whether the person concerned has a specified Class A drug present in his body; and

(b) must be retained until the person concerned has made his first appearance before the court.

Notes for Guidance

17A  When warning a person who is asked to provide a urine or non-intimate sample in accordance with paragraph 17.1, the following form of words may be used:

• “You do not have to provide a sample, but I must warn you that if you fail or refuse without good cause to do so, you will commit an offence for which you may be imprisoned, or fined, or both”.

17B  A sample has to be sufficient and suitable. A sufficient sample is sufficient in quantity and quality to enable drug testing analysis to take place. A suitable sample is one, which by its nature, is suitable for a particular form of drug analysis.

17C  A prescribed person in paragraph 17.10 is one who is prescribed in regulations made by the Secretary of State under section 63B(6) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

17D  The retention of the sample in paragraph 17.13 allows for the sample to be sent to the Forensic Science Service laboratory for confirmatory testing and analysis if the detainee disputes the test. But such samples, and the information derived from them, may not be subsequently used in the investigation of any offence or in evidence against the persons from whom they were taken.

17E  The trigger offences are: from the Theft Act 1968 — theft, robbery, burglary, aggravated burglary, taking a motor vehicle (or other conveyance) without authority, aggravated vehicle-taking, obtaining property by deception, going equipped for stealing etc.; and from the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (but only if committed in respect of a specified Class A drug) — producing and supplying a controlled drug, possessing a controlled drug, possessing a controlled drug with intent to supply.”.