Help catch Xmasdrink drivers plea

Derbyshire Constabulary has again teamed up with Crimestoppers for the campaign which runs from now until January 1.

Crimestoppers have offered a reward of up to £1,000 for information leading to the arrest and charge of a drink-driver. The size of the reward depends on the nature and seriousness of the offence.

During the 2011 campaign, officers conducted 895 breath tests and of those 104 (11.6 per cent) gave a positive test, the driver refused to take the test or the driver failed to provide a sample.

Police received ten pieces of information from Crimestoppers about drink-drivers through last year’s campaign and several people contacted police directly to pass on details of drivers they believed were drinking before getting behind the wheel.

Chief Inspector Steve Wilson, head of roads policing in Derbyshire, said: “Our message is simple – if you are having a drink don’t drive.

“Our campaign is very much intelligence led and by working with Crimestoppers it will allow us to target those who persistently drink and drive rather than conducting mass-testing.

“I would urge anyone with information about a drink driver to contact police or Crimestoppers and we will act on it wherever possible.

“We are determined to make our roads safer and this starts by removing those individuals who recklessly drink and drug drive on our roads.”

To report a drink-driver contact police on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.