POLICE are hailing the success of a push to crack down on drink and drug driving in Wiltshire over Christmas and New Year.

Wiltshire Police made 84 arrests related to suspected drink and drug driving offences from December 1 to January 1, an increase from last year.

A total of 1,031 people were stopped for breath tests over that time.

Twenty people were screened at the roadside for suspected drug use, of which 12 were positive or failed to provide a sample and were subsequently arrested.

Sergeant Gavin Brewster, of the Wiltshire Road Safety Unit, said: “84 positive results are higher on last year which saw a total of 68 positives or fail to provide a sample.

“However we stopped significantly more drivers - 303 more - and the percentage risking drinking and driving has actually fallen from 9.34 per cent to 8.15 per cent of those tested.

“Although this is an improvement it shows that not everybody is listening to the drink/drug driving message and acting on it.

“It is quite simple; if you have been drinking you should not be driving.

“We would like to thank members of the public for calling in and working with Wiltshire Police to help get these drink and drug drivers off of the road.”

Of the 84 people who failed the breath test, 21 were under the age of 25, a fact that Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Angus Macpherson, said was “concerning”.

Angus Macpherson, Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, said: “I’m glad to see the increase in the number of people stopped and tested, and that the percentage of those who were driving irresponsibly has fallen.

“I would like to commend Wiltshire Police officers for their vigilance during the festive period.

“It is very concerning that so many young people were found to have been drinking and driving when so much excellent work is done by police and partners in schools with projects such as Safe Drive Stay Alive. It shows that this work needs to continue.”