Worrying rise in drink-drive cases (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Worrying rise in drink-drive cases

A RISE in the number of Christmas drink drivers in Gloucestershire this year has caused alarm at the county's police headquarters.

Sixty nine drivers were arrested in the run up to Christmas, while more than 110 arrests have been made in Wiltshire alone this month.

Both forces have been enforcing a strict campaign against drink driving during the festive period - with 1,965 breath tests conducted by Gloucestershire police by December 20.

The 69 people arrested either refused to provide a specimen or failed the breath test.

Some 138 of the roadside tests were conducted at the scenes of collisions, 91 of which involved injury, with six of those tested giving a positive specimen.

Now both Wiltshire and Gloucestershire police forces have renewed their message that drink driving is lethal and will not be tolerated.

Mark Polin, Gloucestershire's assistant chief constable, said: "Despite the fact we have breath tested less people so far during this campaign compared to last year, we have arrested 20 more people.

"It means the percentage of drink drivers caught this year is two percent higher than it was during our last campaign.

"I cannot understand why people seem to ignore the constant messages promoted by the media and agencies. This is clearly very worrying."

The drink drive campaign, being run in conjunction with Gloucestershire County Council's Road Safety Unit, is codenamed Operation Aqua.

As well as drink drive checks, the operation has involved extra patrols in towns and cities countywide, as well as licensing checks to ensure compliance with the new regulations contained within the Licensing Act 2003.

Meanwhile, in Wiltshire the large number of arrests has led to a renewed appeal to all motorists not to drink or take drugs and drive during the New Year period - or face the consequences.

Inspector Mike Ashford-Smith, of Wiltshire police, said: "We have an important role to play at Christmas and New Year, both in deterring drink-driving, and detecting and prosecuting those who flout the law and put lives at risk.

"There is still far too many drink and drug related road collisions, and we will not tolerate those who flout the law and put people's lives in danger."

Police will continue stepping up the battle against offending drivers throughout 2006 in a bid to tackle the rising yearly levels of drink related road deaths.

Meanwhile, the results of the Wiltshire campaign for December will be announced by the Association of Chief Police Officers on the January 11 or 12, 2006.