Record number of drink and drug driving arrests

Officers conducted 1552 roadside breath tests and 309 roadside drug tests on drivers in Lancashire in December

A record number of people were arrested for driving under the influence of drink or drugs in Lancashire over the festive period, police have said.

More than 300 people were arrested in December, "worryingly" 24% more than in the same month the previous year, Lancashire Police said.

Operation Limit, a national police campaign throughout December, was aimed at reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured in crashes over the festive season.

Supt Hassan Khan said it was "shocking to see a record number of arrests this December".

Officers conducted 1,552 roadside breath tests and 309 roadside drug tests on drivers in the county between 1 December and 1 January.

Those arrested included a 41-year-old man from Darwen, who collided with a stone wall on 31 December, causing the car to overturn.

The force said the driver was almost double the legal limit and was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.

Earlier in the month, officers stopped a Nissan X-Trail on Liverpool Old Road, Much Hoole, with a broken rear light on the evening of 10 December.

The driver, 26, from Chorley, failed a roadside drug test, testing positive for cocaine and cannabis.

Officers also found cannabis, several bags of white powder weighing about 0.5kg (1.1lb), more than £600, and four mobile phones in a search of his car.

He was arrested on suspicion of drug driving, possession with intent to supply class A drugs, and possession of class B drugs and has since been released under investigation.

Warning

Supt Hassan Khan said: "It is a real shame that every year, we see people making the poor decision of driving impaired. No matter how 'easy' or 'short' you think the drive is going to be, it is never worth risking your licence, job or life."

Although the operation is over, he said the force was still out doing roadside drug and alcohol tests daily and warned anyone who chose to get behind the wheel impaired would "be stopped, tested and prosecuted".

Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire's police and crime commissioner said: "Drink or drug driving is unacceptable but sadly it's clear that too many people choose to ignore the dangers that come with it and put lives at risk.

"It is a selfish choice to make," he added.