Derbyshire police launch Christmas drink-drive campaign

Officers are teaming up with Crimestoppers for the campaign which runs from tomorrow to January 1 2013.

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 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 officers directly to pass on details of drivers believed to be drinking before getting behind the wheel.

Chief Inspector Steve Wilson, head of roads policing in Derbyshire, said: “It’s a time of celebration for many including work parties and especially with family and friends.

“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.

“If you drink alcohol or take drugs before driving, we’ll catch up with you.

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

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

Last year 280 people were killed and 1,290 were seriously injured in drink-driving related incidents across the country.

To report a drink-driver contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.