Warwickshire Police cracking down on drink and drug driving this Christmas

The new campaign urges the public to help "prevent, persuade and call the police" on drink drivers.

Author: Lia DesaiPublished 23rd Dec 2022

Warwickshire Police officers have now arrested 85 people on suspicion of drink or drug driving as Operation Limit, the NPCC anti-drink and drug driving operation, continues.

This includes 23 arrests in the last week after 236 drivers were stopped, and 105 breath tests and 38 drug wipes completed.

Police are urging anyone planning a night out to pre-book a taxi, agree on a designated driver or drink non-alcoholic beverages.

The new national campaign, called Drink Driving – Together We Can Stop It, calls on the public to share responsibility on reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads.

Jem Mountford, Roads Policing Inspector for Warwickshire Police, said: "I appreciate that some people may see this as snitching, but I would look at it differently.

"You may be saving a life if that person who's had a drink gets behind the wheel. How would you feel if there's a collision that causes a fatality or a serious injury?"

The campaign runs alongside a national police operation called Operation Limit, where all police forces in England and Wales are increasing their presence on the roads to coincide with the 2022 World Cup and lead up to Christmas.

Chief Constable Jo Shiner, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Roads Policing said: "Drink driving destroys lives, but tragically every day reckless drivers get behind the wheel and put themselves and others at risk.

"That’s why we are calling on the public and friends of drink drivers to prevent, persuade and – as a last resort – report drink driving to police this Christmas."

In Warwickshire, an estimated 393 people were killed or injured between 2018 and 2022, when one of the drivers involved was over the drink-drive limit.