50 arrests after festive drink drive campaign

19 positive tests recorded at scene of crashes

FIFTY people were arrested for drink and drug driving offences in Leicestershire during an annual police crackdown.

Some 19 of those arrested tested positive for alcohol or drugs at crash scenes, Leicestershire Police said.

The force ran its yearly drink and drug driving campaign from December 1 to New Year’s Eve.

A total of 46 motorists were arrested for being over the alcohol limit, while four tested positive for drugs.

While the figure is lower than last year’s total of 67, road safety campaigners raised concerns about the number of young drivers arrested and daytime drinkers

Nearly a third of those arrested (16) were aged 24 or under, while three quarters (36) of arrests were made between 6am and 6pm.

One person was found to be more than three times over the legal alcohol limit, officers said.

Jonathan Clarkson, spokesperson for the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership, warned young drivers are most likely to be involved in road crashes.

He said: “Although the overall arrests are lower than December 2015, the increase in the number of younger drivers being stopped is worrying, our statistics show that road users aged between 17 and 24 are more likely to suffer death or serious injury on our roads.

“Of equal concern is the number of people arrested following roadside collisions along with those detained during the daytime.”

The majority of arrests (21) were made in Leicester, with seven each in Charnwood and Harborough, four each in North West Leicestershire and Blaby, three each in Oadby, Wigston and Melton, and one in Rutland.