Screened breath tests in Wales by year
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- Summary information
- Statistical quality information
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Title
Number of screened breath tests by police force region in WalesLast update
20 March 2024Next update
December 2024 (provisional)Publishing organisation
Welsh GovernmentSource 1
Breath Test Statistics for England and Wales, Home OfficeDesignation
National StatisticsLowest level of geographical disaggregation
Police authoritiesGeographical coverage
WalesLanguages covered
English and WelshData licensing
You may use and re-use this data free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government License - see http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licenceGeneral description
Number of screened breath tests by police force region in WalesData collection and calculation
Breath testsThe police can require a person to take a screening breath test if they have reasonable cause to suspect that the person has been driving or attempting to drive with alcohol in their body (Section 6(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988), that they have committed a moving traffic offence (Section 6(1)), or that the person has been involved in an accident (Section 6(2)). A person failing to provide a breath test is guilty of ân offence, unless there is a reasonable excuse.
Frequency of publication
AnnualData reference periods
2002 to 2022Statistical quality
The statistics are used both within and outside the Welsh Government to monitor trends in driving offences and as a baseline for further analysis. Breath test statistics are used to measure the effectiveness of drink–drive campaigns by police forces.Figures for 'total breath tests' showed a large increase from 2007 to 2009 due to a new digital breath test system being implemented by many police forces. Previously, with paper reporting, negative breath tests tended to be under-reported by forces. In some cases, officers from neighbouring forces may carry out breath tests in territory covered by other forces. In such cases, a breath test will be recorded against the force who owns the equipment. It is not always possible to identify which force actually conducted the breath test.