Speak up about drink driving

Monklands police have teamed up with Crimestoppers Scotland to launch a summer campaign encouraging residents to speak up about drink-driving.

Figures from the crimefighting charity revealed that, between April 2015 and March last year, it logged 10,000 calls from members of the Scottish public and 656 were about drink-driving.

As a direct result, 63 resulted in positive action taken by Police Scotland and 23 individuals were arrested and charged.

With the weather heating up encouraging drinking in the daytime, the temptation to drive while over the limit may be higher, so Crimestoppers is urging anyone with details about people regularly drink- driving to get in touch.

Airdrie and Coatbridge residents may see their f riends, family, work colleagues or neighbours driving while over the limit but don’t want to go the police because they fear being identified.

But Crimestoppers doesn’t take personal details and all calls remain anonymous.

Angela Parker, national manager for Crimestoppers in Scotland, said: “Those who drink- drive are not only endangering their own lives, they’re putting others at risk too.

“We want to ensure the roads stay safe this summer and we need members of the public to help us do this by passing on information about anyone who is regularly getting behind the wheel while over the drinkdrive limit.”

Information can be provided to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.