Police detect more people drink driving in Craigavon area

The number arrested for drink driving during the police winter drink drive operation, which ran between November 27 2015 and January 2 2016, has increased by just over 40%, compared to the same period in 2014-2015.

According to figures police made 396 drink driving arrests, which is 114 more than during the same period last year. This figure includes motorists who were unfit to drive, or who were unable or refused to give a sample. It also includes individuals who were caught on more than one occasion.

The total number of detections were 396, compared to 282 the previous year. The youngest person detected was just 16 years of age and the oldest 83. Almost five times as many males as females were detected; 325 males and 71 females were detected during the operation.

The highest reading recorded was 140mg; the legal limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. 4231 preliminary breath tests were carried out leading to 396 people being arrested.

Assistant Chief Constable, Alan Todd, said, “When we launched this operation, we warned drivers not to take the risk because police are determined to catch drink drivers. While we have seen a huge increase in detections, it’s difficult to accept this situation as a success. It’s disappointing that a minority of people completely disregard the safety of themselves and others by continuing this shameful and dangerous practice.