The Isle of Wight has the lowest arrest figures on suspicion of drink/drug driving in the Hampshire Constabulary area since the launch of Operation Holly on 1 December. This in from the Police, in their own words. Ed
More than 200 people have now been arrested on suspicion of drink/drug driving during Hampshire Constabulary’s Christmas campaign Op Holly.
Of the 201 arrested between December 1 and December 27, 145 are facing court after being charged [72.1 per cent], 33 people have been bailed [16.4 per cent] and 23 [11.4 per cent] were released with no further action taken.
Men accounted for 84.6 per cent of arrests [170] and women 15.4 per cent [31].
20-24 year olds biggest offenders
The greatest number of arrests at 45 [22.4 per cent], were among 20 to 24-year-olds. The second greatest number of arrests, 28, involved 25 to 29-year-olds. The lowest number of arrests – nine – involved 17 to 19-year-olds and drivers aged 60 plus accounted for 16 arrests. [See bottom of press release for full breakdown]
By area, the highest number of arrests, 52 [25.9 per cent], has been in the North and East Hampshire. The Isle of Wight has had the lowest arrest figures, not including force border arrests, with 16 [8 per cent], followed by Portsmouth with 25.
In central Hampshire, including Fareham and Gosport, there have been 40 arrests, while 37 people have been arrested in the New Forest, Eastleigh and Test Valley area and 30 in Southampton.
There was one arrest just outside the force area.
Not worth risking yours or others’ lives
Insp Martin Goodall of Hampshire Constabulary’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “The figures have continued to rise since the campaign began on December 1, and are both good and bad in equal measure. Good because we are catching these people and handing them over to the courts and bad because these numbers suggest that people are still simply not heeding the warnings about drink-driving.
“Alcohol is not so important that it is worth risking your life and the lives of others. It’s a drink. How can anyone compare that with someone’s life – and the lives of those left behind?
“Whether you do it out of ignorance or arrogance, the risks are the same. Let’s hope it doesn’t take a fatal car crash to make people sober up to the fact that drink-driving kills.”
Report drink/drug drivers
Hampshire Constabulary is asking members of the public across the two counties to text 80999 to report anyone they suspect of driving drink or being drug impaired behind the wheel.
The information will be received anonymously, and senders simply need to text the precise location where the driver was last seen, direction of travel if possible, and as many vehicle details as possible – most importantly the number plate.
The number is a text-only service, and will not take phone calls but anyone witnessing a drink drive offence in progress can call 999.
Image: Mike Kline under CC BY 2.0
