Police test new nitrous oxide device in Oldham on drivers

Operation Avro, which happens annually, has seen hundreds of officers deployed across Oldham throughout today (July 23).

The police action day sees officers carry out both targeted and proactive enforcement, from conducting raids to patrolling and monitoring crime hotspots.

Police cars at the checkpoint (Image: NQ)

A coordinated day involving multiple sub-operations, GMP's Oldham Operation Avro 2026 included a traffic checkpoint on Broadway, prompted by recent crashes in the area.

Earlier this morning, The Oldham Times also accompanied the force as a warrant was carried out, and a cannabis farm was uncovered.

The checkpoint saw officers stationed at various sections of Broadway, spotting any drivers displaying factors of 'the fatal four' - speeding, driving under the influence of drink or drugs, not wearing a seatbelt and mobile phone use.

The officers were also looking for unsafe vehicles, such as ones with illegal modifications, or with heavy damage and which were unfit to drive.

The cars were then pulled into the checkpoint at Clayton Playing Fields, where officers were using a new testing device.

The new equipment is able to test for nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas or balloons, in a person's breath, something which has never been possible before.

Created by Respira Technologies, the device takes a reading of the amount of nitrous oxide particles per million (ppm) in any sample of breath.

Chief Inspector Chris Fowler testing the NitrousTest (Image: NQ)

A person can naturally register up to 80ppm without having used the Class C drug, but a person who has used it can measure up to 2,000ppm.

The device is being used to help set a legal limit for the enforcement of driving under the influence of the drug, which was previously not possible, as testing for the drug was too difficult.

Vehicles pulled over by the police (Image: NQ)

The equipment, named NitrousTest, was described as 'game-changing ' by officers at the scene.

Sergeant Howarth, from the roads policing unit, said: "We're here in Oldham as part of Operation Avro.

Sergeant Howarth speaking with drivers (Image: NQ)

"We're running a traffic operation looking at the fatal four offences and ensuring all users have the appropriate licences and insurance.

"We also have a nitrous oxide trial running.

"We're seeing more and more that this is the latest drug people are using while they're driving on the roads.

"We're looking at collecting data, so hopefully in the next 12 months we can start enforcing that on our roads."

A bike seized by the police (Image: GMP)

The operation also saw stops for illegal window tints, illegal registration plates, mobile phone use and illegal electric vehicles, such as bikes and scooters.

One e-bike seized by officers could go up to 40mph and was controlled by a throttle, similar to a motorbike, meaning it required registration, an MOT, and insurance; none of which it had.

The operation was carried out over several hours and saw hundreds of cars stopped and checked.