A motorist whose driving caused concern to a member of the public was arrested by police in Harrogate after giving a positive drugs test.

The member of the public has been praised by North Yorkshire Police for contacting them about the way in which the vehicle was being driven.

In a  Facebook post, which included a photograph of the the roadside wipe test kit that had been used, police said:

“The driver, a man in his 20s, gave this positive reading for cocaine and white powder was located during a search of the vehicle.

“He was arrested and a blood sample has been obtained which will be sent off for analysis.”

The motorist was stopped by police after a member of the public raised concerns about the standard of his driving

“The consequences could have been much more serious – so a huge thank you to the person who called us.

“We always say if you are concerned about someone’s driving, call us and in this case, earlier this week, a motorist was stopped by one of our officers after a member of the public contacted us concerned about the standard of their driving in Harrogate.”

The government warns motorists about use of drugs and driving, saying:

“It’s illegal to drive if either:

• you’re unfit to do so because you’re on legal or illegal drugs
• you have certain levels of illegal drugs in your blood (even if they have not affected your driving)

“The police can stop you and make you do a ‘field impairment assessment’ if they think you’re on drugs. This is a series of tests, for example asking you to walk in a straight line. They can also use a roadside drug kit to screen for cannabis and cocaine.

“If they think you’re unfit to drive because of taking drugs, you’ll be arrested and will have to take a blood or urine test at a police station.

“You could be charged with a crime if the test shows you’ve taken drugs..

Ripon Grammar School sixth form student Tom Cave has won a prize in a University of Oxford competition. An essay he wrote on a complex legal issue, was among entries from all over the world.

Tom, who aspires to be a lawyer, was selected from a competitive international field to win a place at the university’s online legal workshops. His entry in the legal reasoning competition was highly commended in a group of 84 entries.

Corpus Christi College outreach officer Katharine Baysan, said:

“It clearly engaged with the materials and sought to understand their meaning and effect,”

Ripon Grammar School student Tom Cave is planning a career in the legal profession

Tom, from Burton Leonard, had to analyse, using legislative texts, how the law would apply to a case revolving around negligence. He entered the competition for the Peter Cane Legal Reasoning Prize, named after the international-acclaimed legal scholar.

Tom, said:

“I thought it would also be beneficial to gain some extra research skills which would be helpful for my extended project qualification (EPQ) and for life after school.”

He has been examining whether Whole Life Orders are justified on the basis of human rights and criminal justice for his EPQ during lockdown and pointed out:

“Offenders can spend their whole life in prison without possibility of parole and I’m examining whether it’s acceptable to remove their hope as well as their liberty.”

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Tom, who is 17 and a volunteer, at the Ripon Walled Garden, is hoping to complete his Gold Duke of Edinburgh award this year.

During the covid lockdown, he has also begun virtual work experience with international corporate law firm White & Case.

In addition to the place he has won on the Oxford online workshops, Tom was presented with a certificate detailing his achievement at a prize-giving with Professor Cane and invited to a law faculty taster day.