Police powers and procedures, England and Wales, year ending 31 March 2018

Police forces in England and Wales last year carried out the lowest number of breath tests since data collection began in 2002.

This report shows that 325,887 breath tests were administered in 2017 – down from 381,746 in 2016 and representing a year-on-year fall of 15%.

The report says the 2017 figure ‘continues the downward trend seen since the peak of 670,023 breath tests in 2009’.

The percentage of breath tests which were either positive or refused in 2017 rose by 1% – from 13% to 14% – the highest proportion since 2007.

Looking at the longer term trend, the report shows that from 2014 to 2017, there has been a ‘gradual increase’ in the proportion of breath tests that were positive or refused – from 11% to 14%.