By James Simons-
Essex police have arrested hundreds of drink drivers, according to figures released in the lea dup to the Christmas period.
Essex Police have released figures confirming the number of arrests made this Christmas period.The force announced that they arrested 233 people for drink and drug driving offences. They said 110 of those arrests were for drink driving, 99 for drug driving, and 24 for failing to provide a specimen. The figures show that even with campaigns against drink driving or known facts of deaths caused because of people driving under the influence, a number of people out there simply don’t take notice and have no regard for the safety of others.
Inspector Rob Brettell, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “These numbers are shocking and show we’re arresting an average of 10 people a day. Essex police say their success have come from the the amount of information we get from the public, part of it will be down to the fact we’re better equipped than ever to detect drug drivers, but sadly part of it is because people still think it’s worth taking the risk.
“Many of the people we arrest on suspicion of drink driving are only going a short distance. They think because they’re not travelling very far they don’t pose a risk and they won’t get caught.
“That is totally wrong and that mindset is utterly reckless.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re going one mile, 10 miles, or 100 miles – if you get behind the wheel while under the influence of drink or drugs, you could end up killing yourself or someone else.”
“Our message is simple – this Christmas drive safe, drive sober because we don’t want you to find out how it feels to deal with the consequences of drink or drug driving.”