Over 350 arrested in West Yorks festive drink drive crackdown

Thursday, 3 January 2019 07:00

More than 350 drivers were arrested for drink or drug driving during West Yorkshire Police’s festive crackdown.

The force ensured that every operational police vehicle in West Yorkshire had a breathalyser kit in it during the month of December and also ran the ‘Not the Usual Suspects’ campaign to raise awareness of the consequences of getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol or taking drugs.

In total from 1 December to 1 January there were 284 arrests for drink driving and 92 arrests for drug driving. Of these arrests, 122 were in Leeds district, 105 were in Bradford district, 77 were in Wakefield district, 39 were in Kirklees and 33 were in Calderdale. The youngest person arrested was 15-years-old and the oldest 84-years-old.

Chief Inspector Chris Corkindale, Head of Roads Policing, said: “Some of those arrested will have come to our attention as a result of collisions on our roads while others were caught before tragedy struck.

“The public’s response in reporting people they believed to be drink or drug driving has been immense. It is a simple fact that getting behind the wheel while under the influence of drink or drugs puts yourself and others at risk, which can never be acceptable.

“The hundreds of people we’ve arrested over the last month are now facing a new year with the prospect of losing their licence and potentially their livelihood depending on the job they do.

“During December, we have highlighted the number of people arrested for drink and drug driving on West Yorkshire’s roads and had a fantastic public response to this. We do however appreciate that the majority of West Yorkshire’s motorists are responsible drivers. Please rest assured that we work all year round to keep you safe on our roads and will continue to do so.”

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