POLICE in Cumbria have reported a 'massive increase' in the number of motorists being caught under the influence of cocaine and cannabis.

The number of prosecutions for drug-driving has increased by around 90 per cent across the country with 5,465 convictions in 2017 compared with 10,325 in 2018.

Technological advances in recent years mean officers are now better equipped than ever to find and charge those who take drugs before getting behind the wheel.

Drug wipe tests are used to test the saliva of an individual to see if the person has taken drugs such as cocaine or cannabis.

The wipes can also detect ketamine, LSD, methamphetamine, MDMA and heroin.

Saliva drug testing allows police to detect the active and impairing components of the drugs and sees those that were consumed in just the last few hours to half a day ago.

Using the wipes will indicate if someone is currently likely 'impaired' by a drug.

Sergeant Lee Hill from South Cumbria's Mobile Support Group said that before the law changed in 2015 officers were required to show a motorist's driving was impaired by drug use.

But new legislation now allows police to test for traces of drugs, Sgt Hill explained.

"There has been a massive increase in drug-driving," he said.

"We used to be required to have a significant suspicion someone was under the influence but now the burden of suspicion is the same as with drink-driving.

"With the introduction of the use of drug wipes we can now get an indication at the roadside if someone is over the limit and that gives us the power of arrest.

"We then take a blood sample to determine the levels of the drug in their system."

The levels set by the government to prove a case of drug-driving are generally extremely low – such as two micrograms of THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, per litre of blood.

Officers are also trained in other tests aimed at discovering if a driver is under the influence of a substance which a traditional alcohol or drug wipe test wouldn’t pick up.

Field Impairment Tests are six tests aimed at ascertaining whether someone is fit to be driving on the road including examining the pupils of their eyes and asking them to stand on one leg.

Through Operation Dreadnought police in Cumbria are using targeted approaches to tackle motorists who put the lives of others at risk.

Inspector Steve Minnikin, of Cumbria Police’s Mobile Support Group, said: “Our officers will be taking a proactive approach to these issues, including increased evidence gathering through numerous methods, roadside drugs and alcohol testing.

“Every road user should be able to feel safe throughout the county.

"By taking a targeted, intelligence-led approach, I am confident Operation Dreadnought will result in improved road safety throughout Cumbria.”