Police reveal rise in arrests for drink and drug driving over festive period

Thames Valley Police has revealed a rise in the number of arrests the force made for drink and drug drving over the festive period.
Arrests for drink and drug driving are up on last yearArrests for drink and drug driving are up on last year
Arrests for drink and drug driving are up on last year

The force teamed up with Hampshire Constabulary and together arrested a total of 540 people for drink and/or drug-driving during their Christmas campaign which ran from December 1 2015 to January 1.

The campaign, ‘Where will you end up tonight?’, featured digital graphics and video, with the hard-hitting theme of a mortuary to reinforce messages around the potentially fatal consequences of drink-driving. This was supported by enforcement activity by officers.

In Thames Valley, 325 arrests were made up by more than 50 on the 273 arrested the previous year.

The Force said it will continue to analyse the data from the campaign, including the number of breath tests carried out across both Force areas, over the coming weeks.

Ch Insp Henry Parsons, Acting Head of Roads Policing, said: “We’ve seen a rise in the number of people we have arrested for drink or drug-driving. New legislation and equipment have made detecting drug drivers much easier and this resulted in 30 extra arrests.

“As in previous campaigns, we were greatly assisted by members of the public who passed us vital information and helped us take these drivers off the roads. Drink and drug-driving kills or injures people. Our message is simple - don’t mix drink or drugs with driving - it’s not worth the risk.”

Do you know someone who drinks over the limit or takes drugs and drives? Call police on 101 or, if it’s an emergency, dial 999. If you don’t want to speak to police or give your name, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

For more information on drink and drug-driving, visit the Thames Valley Police website.