Dorset’s PCC wants "harsher punishments" for drug drivers

Police bosses have called on the Government to consider allowing charges of manslaughter for drug drivers who kill

Author: Jamie GuerraPublished 9th Jan 2025
Last updated 10th Jan 2025

Dorset’s Police and Crime Commissioner says sanctions for causing death while driving under the influence of drink and drugs “don’t go far enough”.

It comes following a driver received three years in prison for killing a grandmother in Wyke Regis after having smoked cannabis and driving without due care and attention.

Meanwhile, in a separate case in Dorset, a young driver was sentenced to eight years for causing death by dangerous driving while also under the influence of drugs.

PCC David Sidwick told us: “It cannot be right for somebody to get into a car while under the influence and take someone else's life.

“We need to be able to treat these offences with the seriousness they deserve but at the moment I do not believe the current law goes far enough, nor acts as enough of a deterrent.”

Mr Sidwick is now lobbying for tougher sanctions and new powers to tackle offending and anti-social motorists.

He’s asked the Government to consider allowing charges of manslaughter to be brought if a drink or drug driver kills someone on the roads.

“I'm not satisfied that we've got this right,” PCC Sidwick said. “I think we need to increase sanctions because otherwise more people will die and more drivers will have their lives changed.

“But first we need more education around the issues of illegal gateway drugs and the harm they cause because I'm fed up with people having cannabis in their system and then killing either their passengers or other people.”

Mr Sidwick added: “The incidents mentioned earlier acutely demonstrate the tragic and wide-ranging impact a decision to get behind the wheel of a vehicle while intoxicated can have.

“It is up to each and every driver to take responsibility for their own behaviour and actions behind the wheel.

"I hope tougher punishment for those who flout the law and put themselves and others at risk of serious injury or worse, will send a clear message that this mindless recklessness will not be tolerated.”

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