Hampshire Sees Rise In Christmas Drink-Drivers

16 December 2013, 14:27 | Updated: 16 December 2013, 14:28

Hampshire Police say they're 'disappointed' at a big rise in the number of people arrested and charged with drink-driving this December.

The latest figures show an increase of 21 per cent in the numbers of people being arrested for drink or drug driving (108 from 1-15 December 2013, compared to 89 in the same period last year).

75 people have been charged so far, an increase of 39 per cent on the same time last year (54 in 2012).

Inspector Andy Storey who is heading the campaign said:

"It is disappointing that people still are not getting the message about drink driving. It is astounding that people are still taking the risk.

"We are putting more resources than ever before into this campaign-if you choose to drink or drug drive, we will catch you, you will go to court and you will lose your licence.

"But the human cost of drink driving has a much greater impact. As our videos last week of the Staley family showed, drink driving ruins lives."

"This week we are focusing on designated drivers. If you are planning a night out with friends or family decide on a designated driver or have a plan to get home via a way that does not involve you getting behind the wheel if you
have had a drink or taken something else."

On Friday 20 December the force's crashed car display will be in Portsmouth. It belongs to the Staley family from Newport. The vehicle was decimated when it was hit by a driver who was two-and-a-half times over the drink/drive limit and had been smoking cannabis. Ten-year-old Evey Staley was killed in the collision-which also seriously injured her parents Penny and Neal.