More than 150 arrests during our Christmas Drink and Drug Drive campaign

On Sunday December 1, 2024, we launched our annual month-long winter drink and drug drive campaign, urging drivers not to get behind the wheel when consuming alcohol or illegal drugs as a result of national statistics which show that social drinking increases due to the festive period.

On Sunday December 1, 2024, we launched our annual month-long winter drink and drug drive campaign, urging drivers not to get behind the wheel when consuming alcohol or illegal drugs as a result of national statistics which show that social drinking increases due to the festive period. 

The campaign began with us launching a video called “Christmas for me is about…”, to raise awareness of the dangers of driving under the influence of drink or drugs. It featured Angie Neal, sister to Carol Jones who sadly lost her life following the actions of a drink and drug driver in 2016. The video, which has had over 100,000 views, highlights how one person’s inconsiderate decision can shatter many people’s lives for years after. During this year’s campaign we also engaged with hundreds of people at various talks which include military personnel and young farmer groups to educate them about the risks and life-shattering consequences of drink and drug driving.

From the launch, at midnight on the 1 December 2024 we increased patrols to target drink or drug drivers, it didn’t take long, the first arrest was made within five hours in Harrogate. 

In total 151 people were arrested for drink and drug driving related offences in North Yorkshire between 1 December 2024 and 1 January 2025. From the 151, 102 people were arrested for alcohol related driving offences, 42 people were arrested for drug related driving offences. Two people were arrested for both drink and drug driving offences and 17 people were arrested for failing to provide a specimen at the roadside. 

Arrests took place in the following areas:

Harrogate 35

Scarborough 20

York 34

Selby 11

Hambleton 17

Rydale 14

Richmond 11

Craven 9

Out of those arrested, 77% were men and 23% were women. 43% of those people arrested have now been charged and are due to appear at court or have already appeared over recent weeks. The rest have been released on bail or under investigation to allow for further work to take place. 

Sadly, 38 of the drink and drug driving arrests made were as a result of those arrested being behind the wheel of a vehicle at the time of a road traffic collision. Our statistics show that this figure has doubled in comparison to the past two years of data.  

The highest evidential reading recorded was 157 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35 micrograms. At 5pm on Wednesday 04 December officers stopped a vehicle on Wetherby Road in Harrogate due to its manner of driving. The driver failed a roadside breath test, a 40-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of drink driving. In custody she blew 157 which is over four times the legal limit. She was interviewed and released on conditional bail. On Christmas Eve, she was stopped again on Otley Road in Harrogate. A roadside breath test was conducted and she failed. The woman was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, in custody she blew 89 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. She was interviewed, charged and remanded in custody. She is due to appear at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday 31 January. Sadly, this is just one of several cases during this campaign where children have been present in the vehicle when officers have made arrests for drink or drug driving. 

Speaking about the results, Chief Inspector Tom Ibbetson from the Specialist Operations Unit at North Yorkshire Police said: “Firstly, I would like to thank all those who responded positively to our campaign by providing us with information and reporting drink and drug drivers, enabling us to take action to keep our roads safe.

“As part of this year’s campaign we launched a video to highlight how people’s inconsiderate actions can leave devastation which lasts a lifetime. Despite us sending out this hard-hitting message at the start of December the figures make disappointing reading and show that a significant number of people have still made the decision to get behind the wheel while under the influence of drink or drugs. There is no excuse, and our officers are working hard on each individual case to do all we can to prosecute those responsible. 

“Although the campaign has drawn to a close for another year, our work is ongoing all year round to tackle drink and drug driving. We will be out in force every day this year to target drivers who put themselves and others at risk in this way. The message is quite simple, we are not tolerating it and we will be relentless in our pursuit of those who flout the law and put other people’s lives at risk.”