Llandudno,North Wales - 82 motorists - aged between 16 and 77 - arrested during festive drink and drug driving blitz

Published date: 27 January 2016 | 

Published by: Shane Brennan 
Read more articles by Shane Brennan Email reporter

THE police made 82 arrests in North Wales during Christmas as part of an anti-drink and drug driving campaign.

Led by Gwent Police, 22,811 drivers throughout Wales were breath tested during the month-long campaign which ran from December 1, 2015, until  January 1, 2016.

A 16-year-old youth was the youngest person to be arrested by North Wales Police as part of the recent all Wales Christmas Anti Drink and Drug Driving Campaign.

The youth was arrested following a collision in Mochdre involving a moped. The 16-year-old was arrested and has since been charged. He appeared before Llandudno Youth Court on January 19.

The oldest driver to be arrested in North Wales was a 77-year-old man from Prestatyn. He appeared before Prestatyn Magistrates on Monday, January 4, where he was disqualified from driving for 12 months, ordered to pay £120 fine, £85 costs and £20 victim surcharge.

During the campaign, North Wales Police carried out 8,894 breath tests with 82 being positive, refused or failed. 35 people were also arrested for driving whilst under the influence of drugs.

One of the highest drink drive readings recorded during the campaign in North Wales was 126 - the legal limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. A 44-year-old man from Bala was arrested on December 11 and is currently on police bail.

Chief Inspector Darren Wareing from North Wales Police’ Roads Policing Unit said: “This was a concerted effort by not only the Roads Policing Unit, but also colleagues from the Armed Alliance, Local Policing Services and Special Constables.

“Our campaign this year was heavily focussed around preventing drink/drug driving although unfortunately we still found that some people were willing to risk their lives and the lives of others by drink/drug driving. Although we saw a downturn in the number of people we caught this year, which is encouraging, there are still too many willing to take the risk.

“The new drug driving legislation, which was introduced in March 2015, means that our officers are now better equipped than ever to detect and penalise those who drive under the influence of drugs. During the campaign we arrested 34 people which is worrying, however, officers will continue to use the powers available to them to stop those who are risking lives by driving under the influence of drugs.

He added: “Operation Sodium - our anti-drink/drug driving campaign continues throughout the year. The operation involves police officers using a number of tactics in specific areas to ensure we catch people who take the risk. Our message is simple yet strong – don’t do it, the people around you do not support what you are doing, the consequences can be devastating plus we will catch you.”

During the campaign North Wales Police also carried out random drug and alcohol testing internally with its own officers and staff which all came back negative.

CI Wareing added: “North Wales Police has a responsibility to protect its workforce and provide a safe working environment for all staff. We wanted to demonstrate to the public that we were also looking inward in our preventative approach and it was pleasing to see that all tests came back negative.”

If you have information relating to someone you think is driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs, please contact North Wales Police on 101 or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency always dial 999.

see-http://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/