Police given a hand by public
POLICE arrested 114 suspected drink drivers and conducted 3,455 breath tests during their annual festive crackdown – with many of those motorists stopped due to information from members of the public.
High-visibility patrols on the roads in Ryedale and North Yorkshire were an integral part of the campaign, but intelligence from the community was considered to be equally as important as it allowed officers to target certain people and specific areas.
And officers are now keen to point out that with the help of the public they can target people who get behind the wheel while impaired all year round.
Traffic Sergeant Pete Stringer, of North Yorkshire Police’s Roads Policing Group, said: “Although it is concerning that we arrested more people during this year’s campaign than we did 12 months ago and during the summer campaign, I am really pleased by the response of the public in general.
“The vast majority of people know that drink and drug driving is reckless, dangerous and irresponsible which was evident in the number of calls we received to report people suspected of driving while under the influence of drink or drugs.
“The public’s support is invaluable in helping to keep our roads safe from drink and drug drivers and I would like to thank everyone for their continued help.
“I hope people will continue to provide us with information throughout the year because the fight against drink driving isn’t just for one month over Christmas it is a 12 month campaign. It will continue year after year until people get the message that drink driving costs lives and is completely unacceptable.”
Since the Christmas drink and drug campaign officially finished on 1 January 2013, officers have continued to target offenders and have made 13 arrests.
One such incident saw a 19-year-old man arrested in Malton following a tip-off from the public.
The man was seen to speed through traffic lights at Butcher Corner in his Vauxhall Corsa and hit a pillar outside Wallis Business Services on Yorkersgate.
He was arrested at the scene of the incident and will now appear at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court on Thursday next week.
Anyone who would like to report someone suspected of drink or drug driving should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 – select option 1 – and pass information to the Force Control Room.
Alternatively, anyone wishing to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Malton
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 7 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 26 mph
Wind direction: North west
