Festive Safety Campaign End

FESTIVE SAFETY CAMPAIGN ENDS AND POLICE UNDERLINE PROMISE TO CATCH DRINK DRIVERS

NORTHERN Constabulary’s promise to catch as many drink drivers as possible was underlined this week as the Force detected more offenders than in any of the three previous weeks of the Festive Safety Campaign.

A total of 23 drink drivers were detected during week four of the campaign, up from 13 for the same week in 2024.

One drug driver was also detected, making it a total of five drug drivers since the Force’s campaign, labelled Enjoy It Don’t Destroy It, began a month ago.

During the entire four week campaign Northern Constabulary detected a total of 75 drink drivers across the Highlands and Islands, compared to 61 for the same period last year. Five drug drivers were detected during the four weeks, compared to none last year.

The public’s patience appears to have run out in relation to drink and drug drivers with many of the offenders being reported by the public throughout the campaign.

Pleasingly for Police, members of the public are also calling Crimestoppers with information in relation to drink and drug drivers anonymously. During the campaign the public reported 11 suspected drink drivers and 2 suspected drug drivers to the crime fighting charity. As a direct result of these calls two people were arrested in connection with alleged drink driving offences.

Northern Constabulary is urging people to drive responsibly and not put themselves and other road users at risk by getting behind the wheel whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.

Inspector John Smith of Northern Constabulary’s Road Policing Section said:

“Despite the warnings of the consequences of drink and drug driving certain individual motorists have chosen to put the lives of other road users at risk without a second thought.

“The general public clearly support the Police in relation to drink driving enforcement and this is evidenced by the backing that Northern Constabulary has enjoyed throughout the campaign.

He added: “As promised the Force increased patrols throughout the festive period and this has contributed to the rise in the number of motorists arrested in relation to this most serious offence.

“In line with the Force’s policy of intelligence-led Policing the information gathered during the campaign on drink and drug drivers will be used in the forthcoming months to target those continue to flout the laws.”
Inspector Smith concluded: “Northern Constabulary would like to thank the public of the Highlands and Islands for their continued support and they can be proud of the fact they have contributed to making our roads safer.”

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