Thames Valley: Drink Driving Arrests Up

10 December 2013, 10:36 | Updated: 10 December 2013, 10:42

Thames Valley Police have arrested 84 people on suspicion of drink-driving 8 days in to the Christmas anti-drink drive campaign

The ‘Is it worth the risk?’ campaign was launched on Sunday 1 December and is aimed at targeting drink and drug drivers over the festive period.

Heart's been given latest figures showing of those arrested, 68 were men [19 per cent increase] and 16 were women [60 per cent increase]. 

The oldest was a 75-year-old woman arrested in Bicester on (1/12) and the youngest was an 18-year-old man arrested in Henley on (1/12). The average age of those arrested was 37.

The highest reading so far was taken from a driver in Slough on Tuesday (3/12), Michal Zakrezewski, 32 from Ascot blew 133 micrograms of alcohol in their breath which is over three times the legal limit (which is 35mg of alcohol in breath) he has been charged and bailed to return to Slough Magistrates Court on Friday 3 January.

In total, 44 of the 84 arrested have been charged, 29 bailed and 11 released with no further action.

This year’s arrests show a 25 per cent increase on the 67 arrests made during the same period in 2012.

Of the arrests, 26 have been made in Berkshire, 37 in Buckinghamshire and 21 in Oxfordshire.

Chief Inspector Henry Parsons from the Hampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police Joint Operations Unit (JOU) said: “Drinking and driving wrecks lives, most obviously the hundreds of victims and their loved ones who are killed each year.

“But it also changes the lives of the people who are selfish or stupid enough to drive when they are not fit to do so.”

“If you choose to drink and drive, and it is a choice, you face a driving ban, up to £5,000 in fines and a criminal record.

“There is no excuse for drink driving and our message is simple; don’t do it. It’s not worth the risk.”