More than 800 arrests in Christmas operation

An annual operation to tackle drink and drug-driving in December saw over 1,000 arrests

More than 800 arrests were made in December as part of a crackdown on drink and drug driving.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary (HIWC) and Thames Valley Police (TVP) made a joint total of 810 arrests between 1 and 31 December.

Both forces arrested more people for drug-driving than drink-driving.

Det Ch Insp Mike Bettington, of the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit, said drink and drug driving can have "devastating consequences".

Of the arrests, 301 were in the Hampshire policing area, and 509 were in the TVP region.

In Hampshire, 131 arrests were made for drink-driving,156 for drug-driving and 14 for drink and drug driving.

TVP arrested 240 people for drink-driving, 245 for drug-driving, and 24 for both.

In December, Insp Simon Hills, from TVP's roads policing team, said more people "seem to feel that it's appropriate or that it's socially acceptable to take drugs and drive".

But he said the punishment - and potential impacts - were the same as drink-driving.

'Devastating consequences'

Det Ch Insp Bettington said the aim of Operation Holly was to "make the roads safer for everyone".

"We see too often the devastating consequences that can result from this behaviour," he said.

"I am pleased that we have managed to make so many arrests and prevent the potential harm that can be caused by drink and drug drivers."

He urged people to challenge anyone who might be about to drive having drank alcohol or used drugs.

"Even the smallest amount of alcohol or drugs can impact on your driving," he said.

"It's not worth the risk."