Thousands of under-18s caught drink-driving, records show

Figures reveal the extent of underage drink driving in the UK

Thousands of under-18s have been caught drink-driving, police records show.

Records released by 43 UK police forces in response to a Freedom of Information request show 6,558 people aged under 18 were caught driving under the influence of alcohol between 2008 and 2013.

The figures, obtained by in-car camera provider Nextbase, found the youngest offender was aged 11, in the Thames Valley in 2011.

The government said drink-driving laws were being strengthened.

The records show that an average of five under-18s were caught drink-driving each week. Some of those under 18 were driving without insurance and a quarter were 16 or younger.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "Under-age driving is illegal and no person under the age of 17 should be driving a car. We have tough laws in place to tackle those caught driving without a licence.

"Drink-driving is a menace that costs lives, and the government is strengthening the law to help police crack down on this problem."

Hotspots

The total number of under-age drink-driver incidents has fallen slightly year-on-year - Merseyside and Devon and Cornwall saw the greatest fall between 2012 and 2013.

However, a number of areas including North Yorkshire, West Mercia and Staffordshire saw an increase between 2012 and 2013.

The records showed the most severely affected region for under-age drink driving in England was Greater Manchester, where 409 people were arrested, including a number of 12-year-olds.

Other hotspots included Scotland, with 718 offenders, Hampshire (276 offenders), Devon and Cornwall (241) and Sussex (160).