Record number of arrests for drink and drug driving in North Yorkshire

A record 132 arrests were made by North Yorkshire Police during their summer drink and drug driving crackdown.
Stock drinking photoStock drinking photo
Stock drinking photo

More than 800 breath tests were conducted by the force throughout June with 29 people from Harrogate arrested during the period.

Only Scarborough, 33, had more arrests than Harrogate with 26 in York.

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Of the 132 arrests, a 19 per cent increase on arrests last year, – 45 were for drug driving, a huge increase of 181 per cent on the number of drug driving arrests made in June 2015 (16 arrests).

Sergeant Andy Morton of the Roads Policing Group said: “These figures show that North Yorkshire Police is as determined as ever to ensure that dangerous drink and drug drivers are caught and taken off the roads.

"With the introduction of the new roadside drug wipe kits we have seen an increase in arrests for drug driving which sends out a clear message to those who choose to ignore our warning – we are out on the roads and equipped to find you, arrest you and send you to court.”

“Whilst we welcome the use of tools such as the drug wipe kits, we cannot ignore the vital role that the public play in assisting us identify and arrest drink and drug drivers.

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"During this campaign a number of calls have been received from members of the public which have directly led to arrests being made. I myself made an arrest based on a call from the public and I am absolutely certain that lives have been saved due to these calls.

"I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the public for their actions.

“I’d also like to encourage people to continue to contact us with any information they have about anyone drink or drug driving – your call does make a difference. Please contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 1 and pass the details to the Force Control Room”