Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

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Key definition

EC definition

What does EC mean? In legal practice, “EC” is used as shorthand for two distinct concepts: 1. European Commission: The executive arm of the European Union. While “EC” is not a defined statutory term, the Commission is established by the EU Treaties. UK and Irish lawyers encounter “EC” in EU law and competition law materials, case citations, merger control decisions, and references to pre‑Lisbon instruments titled “Regulation (EC) No …”. Post‑Brexit, the term persists in retained EU law, parallel UK/EU investigations, and cross‑border regulatory matters. 2. Emergency controller: A role title found in emergency planning and health and safety practice (for example, COMAH sites, construction...

Drink and drug driving evidential specimens: police powers, approved devices, medical reasons, statutory warnings and specimen selection (England and Wales)

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Practice notes

What is an evidential specimen?

After arrest on suspicion of an alcohol- or drug-related driving offence, police officers will ask the detainee to supply a sample of breath, blood or urine for analysis. The sample is termed an ‘evidential specimen’ because the analytical results are relied upon by the prosecution to establish a particular offence, for instance that the motorist was driving with Excess alcohol in their system. An evidential specimen should be contrasted with a ‘preliminary test’. A preliminary test, such as a roadside police breath test, is carried out by police who suspect consumption of alcohol or drugs. Such testing is only indicative. To prove an offence like driving with excess alcohol, an ‘evidential specimen’ must be taken. The Deregulation ACT 2015 (DA 2015) removed the need for an officer to undertake a preliminary test where a portable evidential breath-testing device is to hand. In those situations, the officer may proceed straight to obtain the evidential breath tests. The power to require a preliminary breath test still exists. It is this specimen that underpins decisions to prosecute. See Practice Note: Road traffic offences—failure to co-operate with a preliminary test...

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Hester Calder

Pump Court Chambers

Hester joined chambers in October 2022 following successful completion of her pupillage, she accepts instructions in crime, family, civil and road traffic law.Prior to pupillage, Hester has had a vast exposure to criminal law, having worked as a Criminal Defence Caseworker and was the assistant to an accomplished and successful criminal defence consultant of the firm, managing her own caseload and clients in the Magistrates and Crown Court, including youths and vulnerable clients, single and multi-handed cases, and the broad spectrum of offences from theft to murder. This included managing the client in the UK’s largest-ever modern slavery prosecution.Within civil law, Hester worked as a County Court Advocate, taking instructions on cases in the County Court’s before Deputy District Judges and District Judges. Hester acted on behalf of instructing solicitors, preparing her own cases and conducting her own legal research....

Ruba Huleihel

Pump Court Chambers

Ruba is a specialist criminal barrister. She acts for both prosecution and defence and has appeared in the Crown Court, the Magistrates’ Court, the Youth Court and Court Martial. Previously, she was a criminal defence paralegal at a busy South London firm for 18 moths. Simultaneously, Ruba completed an LLM in International Law. Inspired by her casework, she wrote her dissertation on extradition and the right to a fair trial.Prior to commencing pupillage Ruba was a legal advisor at Harrow Law Centre working with young people and parents on Stop and Search rights, county lines exploitation, education law, and community care law. Alongside this role, she was a support worker to Syrian refugees at Single Homelessness Project.While on the Bar course Ruba was a volunteer advocate in school exclusion hearings with Communities Empowerment Network and taught debate in HMPs Wandsworth, Isis and...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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