Man arrested after minibus stopped in Southport

We arrested a man after a minibus was seen being driven at speed in Southport on Monday (8 September).
 
The vehicle was stopped at around 2.40pm on Sefton Street and the driver was detained. A roadside drugs test was carried out, which he failed.
 
There were no other people present on the minibus at the time.
 
A 50-year-old man from Southport was arrested on suspicion of driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit. He was taken into custody and later released under investigation.
 
Roads Policing Inspector Simon Wilson said: “Anyone who gets in the driver’s seat after taking illicit or even prescription medication that affects their capacity is taking a huge risk.
 
“Not only do drug drivers risk being involved in a collision and coming to harm themselves, they are taking the safety of other road users – including drivers, pedestrians and cyclists - into their hands.
 
“And given we proactively patrol the roads of Merseyside 365 days a year to protect road users, they also risk the prospect of being arrested, getting a criminal record and facing justice for their behaviour.
 
“In this case, thankfully, the driver was stopped by officers before any harm could come to anyone.
 
“Drug driving is a selfish act that can cause devastation to families and heartbreak that will last a lifetime. If you know that someone has got behind the wheel while I impaired through drink or drugs, do the right thing and report it to us.”
Anyone with information on this incident, or anyone suspected to be drug driving, should contact the Merseyside Police social media desk @MerPolCC on X and Facebook quoting reference 25000744724. You can also report information via our website: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or call 101.
 
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website here: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously.