Police launch Christmas drink driver crackdown

Sussex Police is preparing to launch a Christmas crackdown campaign on drink and drug drivers

Sussex Police is preparing to launch a Christmas crackdown campaign on drink and drug drivers to decrease the number of road deaths.

A total of 270 drink and drug-driving arrests were made in the county during the last month-long campaign, which ran from 1 December 2024 to 1 January 2025.

Chief Constable Jo Shiner, who is also the roads policing lead for the National Police Chiefs' Council, said patrols would increase again this month, in addition to routine roads policing duties all year round.

"Every year, we see a number of innocent people killed or seriously injured on our roads by drivers who are high on drink or drugs, and it needs to stop," she said.

In 2024, there were 70 collisions in East and West Sussex in which someone was killed or seriously injured related to alcohol and 48 related to drugs, an increase compared to the 27 for alcohol and 19 for drugs in 2023, the force said.

Those caught drink and drug-driving can be disqualified from driving, receive an unlimited fine or even a prison sentence.

Alongside the drink-driving messaging, Sussex Police is also launching a new drug-driving campaign, titled Think Again, to challenge the myths that people rely on to justify drug-driving at Christmas time.

In keeping with previous campaigns, Sussex Police will also publish the names of some of those convicted to raise awareness of the issue and to act as a deterrent, the force said.

A new Fatal Five Unit will also be launching next year to tackle the most dangerous driving behaviours, including drink and drug-driving, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said.

"Plan ahead, get a taxi, use public transport or stay over – because no celebration is worth a life," she said.

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