PART 12U.K.EVIDENCE

[F1CHAPTER 7U.K.Use of specimens in proceedings for offences relating to alcohol and drugs

Documentary evidence as to specimensU.K.

84C.(1) Evidence of the proportion of alcohol or any drug in a specimen of breath, blood or urine may, subject to paragraphs (3) and (4) and to rule 84B(4) and (5), be given by the production of a document or documents purporting to be whichever of the following is appropriate, that is to say—

(a)a statement automatically produced by the device by which the proportion of alcohol in a specimen of breath was measured and a certificate signed by a service policeman (which may but need not be contained in the same document as the statement) that the statement relates to a specimen provided by the defendant at the date and time shown in the statement; and

(b)a certificate signed by an authorised analyst as to the proportion of alcohol or any drug found in a specimen of blood or urine identified in the certificate.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), evidence that a specimen of blood was taken from the defendant with his consent by a registered medical practitioner or a registered nurse may be given by the production of a document purporting to certify that fact and to be signed by a registered medical practitioner or registered nurse.

(3)  Subject to paragraph (4)—

(a)a document purporting to be such a statement or such a certificate (or both such a statement and such a certificate) as is mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) is admissible in evidence on behalf of the Director in pursuance of this rule only if a copy of it either has been handed to the defendant when the document was produced or has been served on him not later than seven days before the hearing; and

(b)any other document is so admissible only if a copy of it has been served on the defendant not later than seven days before the hearing.

(4) A document purporting to be a certificate (or so much of a document as purports to be a certificate) is not so admissible if the defendant, not later than three days before the hearing or within such further time as the court may in special circumstances allow, has served notice on the Director requiring the attendance at the hearing of the person by whom the document purports to be signed.

(5) In this rule “authorised analyst” means—

(a)any person possessing the qualifications prescribed by regulations made under section 27 of the Food Safety Act 1990 as qualifying persons for appointment as public analysts under that Act; and

(b)any other person authorised by the Secretary of State to make analyses for the purposes of section 16 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 or this rule.]