St Austell driver arrested after roadside drug test

A car that was too fast and too loud for a quiet Wednesday night in St Austell was enough to bring response officers over for a closer look, and by the end of the stop the driver was in custody and the vehicle was gone.

What happened

Officers pulled the vehicle over on the night of Wednesday 9 September after concerns about the way it was being driven, including excessive speed and noise. A roadside drug test on the driver came back indicating the presence of drugs.

The driver was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and taken into custody. They have since been released under investigation, pending the results of further blood analysis.

Vehicle seized under anti-social driving powers

The car itself didn’t leave with the driver. It was seized under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002, the power that lets officers take vehicles being used in a manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance to others.

Part of a wider push on St Austell’s roads

St Austell Police describe the stop as one example of ongoing work to improve road safety in the town and surrounding area. Officers from local response, neighbourhood and roads policing teams say they continue to carry out patrols and enforcement activity to address the issues communities raise, and to encourage safer use of the road network.

The area is also backed by the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership, which combines education, engagement and enforcement to help cut collisions and keep people safe on the county’s roads.

📷Credit: Devon & Cornwall Police