Police uncover gas cannisters in car of Peterborough driver following "fail to stop" collision on Christmas Day
Police arresting a driver following a collision in Peterborough on Christmas Day discovered cannisters of “laughing gas” on the back seat.
It was no laughing matter for the police, who arrested the man “on suspicion of being unfit to drive through drink or drugs and failing to stop after a collision.”
A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police explained: “While Father Christmas was busy delivering presents, not everyone was behaving themselves.
“At about 1am on Christmas Day we received reports of a collision in Boongate where one of the drivers failed to stop.
“When the car was found a short time later, officers discovered multiple cannisters of nitrous oxide.”
Since November 2023, possession of nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas” is illegal if it is, or is likely to be, wrongfully inhaled, and classified as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
The force spokesperson added: “A man was arrested on suspicion of being unfit to drive through drink or drugs and failing to stop after a collision. He has since been released on bail and an investigation is ongoing.”