United Kingdom Safety and Security Law Enforcement Seeks Drug Driving Testing Capability
To enable more effective enforcement of drug driving offences, the UK Department of Transport is seeking innovative ideas and proposals from industry to explore the development of roadside evidential drug testing. This call for proposals is sponsored by the UK Department for Transport with the support of the UK Home Office and police as the UK looks to tackle drug driving.
Innovative ideas and proposals are sought from industry to enhance the roadside testing of suspected drug drivers. Currently, drivers suspected of being over the limit for specified drugs can be subject to a roadside screening test which, following a positive indication, requires the subject to be taken to a police station where an evidential blood sample is taken. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for forensic analysis where it can take many months to subsequently determine if prosecution is warranted.
Proposals are sought to develop ideas that could create a roadside forensic test capable of being administered at the time the driver is stopped and then generating a positive indication that confirms drug driving. Ideally a result would be obtained at the roadside within 10 minutes. The submission of ideas that that could generate similar swift analysis from a device that is based at a police station, circumventing the need to take an evidential blood sample that requires sending the sample away for analysis, are also welcome. Enhanced evidential drug testing capability will speed up processing of suspects, enabling police to deal with offenders more quickly and freeing up law enforcement to return to duty more quickly. Victims injured by drug drivers will also be made aware of charging decisions more quickly.
Proposal should address at least one of two challenges:
Challenge 1: Roadside Test and Confirm
Create a roadside test which would require a relatively small, ideally handheld, device capable of operating under roadside conditions. Aspects to consider include:
• The need to provide a relatively quick testing process; the ideal process would be in the region of 10 minutes.
• The need to consider road safety and roadside conditions which can be extreme due to weather conditions.
• The need to consider the hostile nature of road stops.
• The need to completely gather the test sample and confirm result at the roadside.
• The need to consider economic costs and affordability of the testing device. The maximum cost of a fully commercialized device would need to be below $2000.
Challenge 2: Station Based Evidential System
Create a process that would achieve a positive result from a combination of the roadside test with a secondary positive confirmation occurring at the police station. Aspects to consider in addition to aspects listed above:
• The ability to retain the test sample gathered at the roadside and use that test sample on a police station device to achieve a secondary positive confirmation.
• The police station device does not need the same environmental and robustness requirements as the roadside device.
This call for proposals presents potential opportunities for U.S. companies with expertise in medical testing, bioscience, life science, advanced medical technology and related equipment, technologies and services. U.S. companies have a worldwide reputation for innovative products, after sales service, and training which makes them competitive in the UK market. The U.S. and UK also share similar business cultures and business practices, which makes the UK an attractive market for U.S. suppliers.
If you have novel ideals that could lead to the development of roadside evidential drug testing and you would like to learn how to submit a proposal, or to learn more about security and defense opportunities in the UK, please contact PJ Menner at the U.S. Embassy London via PJ.Menner@trade.gov.