PART 11EVIDENCE

F1CHAPTER 6Use of specimens in relation to offences under sections 20(1)(a) and 20A of the Armed Forces Act 2006

Annotations:

Use of specimens74B

1

Evidence of the proportion of alcohol or any drug in a specimen of breath, blood or urine provided by or taken from the appellant shall, in all cases (including cases where the specimen was not provided or taken in connection with the alleged offence), be taken into account and, subject to paragraph (2), it shall be assumed that the proportion of alcohol in the appellant’s breath, blood or urine at the time of the alleged offence was not less than in the specimen.

2

That assumption shall not be made if the appellant proves—

a

that he consumed alcohol before he provided the specimen or had it taken from him, and after the time of the alleged offence; and

b

that had he not done so the proportion of alcohol in his breath, blood or urine—

i

in the case of an offence under section 20(1)(a) of the Act, would not have been such as to impair his ability to carry out the duty in question;

ii

in the case of an offence under section 20A of the Act, would not have exceeded the relevant limit (within the meaning of that section).

3

A specimen of blood shall be disregarded unless—

a

it was taken from the appellant under section 93E of the Act; or

b

it was taken from the appellant under section 93G of the Act and the appellant subsequently gave his permission for a laboratory test of the specimen.

4

Where, at the time a specimen of blood or urine was provided by the appellant, he asked to be provided with such a specimen, evidence of the proportion of alcohol or any drug found in the specimen is not admissible on behalf of the Director unless—

a

the specimen in which the alcohol or drug was found is one of two parts into which the specimen provided by the appellant was divided at the time it was provided; and

b

the other part was supplied to the appellant.

5

Where a specimen of blood was taken from the appellant under section 93G of the Act, evidence of the proportion of alcohol or any drug found in the specimen is not admissible on behalf of the Director unless—

a

the specimen in which the alcohol or drug was found is one of two parts into which the specimen taken from the appellant was divided at the time it was taken; and

b

any request to be supplied with the other part which was made by the appellant at the time when he gave his permission for a laboratory test of the specimen was complied with.