Police step up Christmas drink-drive campaign

Drink and drug drivers named in force first. 

West Midlands Police will name every motorist charged with drink or drugs driving as part of their festive clampdown on drivers who flout the law at Christmas time.

In a first for the force, every person who is due to be brought before the courts charged with driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs, or failing to supply a breath specimen will be named on the police website and featured on the force’s main Twitter account: twitter.com/wmpolice

The move is backed by the Association of Chief Police Officers in a bid to cut the number of people who pose a risk to others by getting behind the wheel when intoxicated. Inspector Greg Jennings, force lead for the Christmas drink drive campaign, said: “The message is clear – drink driving increases the risk to both you and others on the road.

“We continue to pull people over, morning and night, who think nothing of driving when they have had one, or several, too many and this is one of the various ways we are trying to send the message home that drink driving has consequences.

“No family wants to receive that dreaded knock on the door and we as police officers definitely do not want to make those kinds of visits, but unfortunately it continues to happen. Until people realise that drink or drug driving leads to a criminal record then they are likely to continue to break the law, pose a danger and believe they can get away with it.”

Each weekday, throughout the month long campaign, West Midlands Police will publish the details of those people charged with drink driving on its website, and highlight the list on social media as a warning to others. Chief Constable Suzette Davenport, national lead for road policing, said: “Those who think they are fit to take the risk of driving while intoxicated are amongst the most selfish in our society – they spare no thought for themselves and, even more gravely, they spare no thought for the lives that they are capable of irreparably destroying in the blink of an eye.

“I am encouraging forces to put a face to the names of those who would so recklessly endanger lives by, where possible, releasing the photos of those convicted of drink and drug-driving.

“It’s important we do all we can to deter people from making the choice to drink or drug-drive and pursue them to the extent of the law if they do.”

People should follow @WMPolice, @CMPG and @TrafficWMP for road safety messages throughout the festive season.