Festive campaign rewards those who name drink-drivers - with poll
POLICE in Derbyshire are asking people to report drink-drivers during the festive period.
Inspector Steve Wilson, head of roads policing, said people should call the cops if they know a motorist has got behind the wheel after a festive tipple.
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Inspector Steve Wilson
Derbyshire Constabulary has teamed up with Crimestoppers for its drink-drive campaign, which runs from tomorrow until New Year's Day.
Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £1,000 for information leading to the arrest and charge of a drink-driver. Insp Wilson said the size of the reward depended on the nature and seriousness of the offence.
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He said: "This time of year is one of celebration for many. 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 drive while under the influence of drink or drugs."
During the 2011 campaign, officers conducted 895 breath tests. Of those, 104 – or 11.6% – either gave a positive test, refused to take one 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.
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 report it anonymously to Crimestoppers.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Would you shop a drink-driver to the police? Have your say on our quick, anonymous poll (above right).
Comments
by Neo_MadBadger
Friday, November 30 2012, 8:45PM
“"I wonder how many false leads they will get from members of the public with personal vendetta's against others, those just creating mischief, and those who are genuine in their calls but wrong. How many resources is this going to tie up when they stake out a pub and await a suspected drink driver while many others simply get away with it while the resources are tied up."
You do wonder a lot , don't you sm. The answer to your dull question is that if drink-drivers are not caught no one knows, do they. And whether or not the police are 'staking out a pub' or actually on the road in search of one of your 'ones that got away', an individual police patrol can only stop, test, arrest and take to the station one driver at a time. Meaning that others may get away with it while that is happening whichever method is used. So, this does not really make any difference and therefore your 'point' is meaningless. Of course the real answer is that the police are attempting to put the wind up potential drink-drivers and thus deter them by making them think that people are more likely to report them if there is the chance of a cash reward. I am sure that your friends, the magistrates and the judge, could have told you this though.”
by Fasty
Friday, November 30 2012, 8:21PM
“"Insp Wilson said the size of the reward depended on the nature and seriousness of the offence."
So there's 'minor' drinking and driving then?”
by smshogun
Friday, November 30 2012, 12:44PM
“I wonder how many false leads they will get from members of the public with personal vendetta's against others, those just creating mischief, and those who are genuine in their calls but wrong. How many resources is this going to tie up when they stake out a pub and await a suspected drink driver while many others simply get away with it while the resources are tied up.”
by Phantom09
Friday, November 30 2012, 12:18PM
“With rewards of unto £1000 on conviction, you could make a living out of this in my local....”
by Spildabeenz
Friday, November 30 2012, 11:54AM
“Neil.... You would be surprised. Habitual drink drivers tend to frequent the same pubs and it only takes someone in the pub to clock the amount they drink and or how long they are there.
I am not sure this is aimed at those people that might have a pint and risk driving. It is those that will have several, knowing they are over the limit, and then drive.”
by NeilT60
Friday, November 30 2012, 11:20AM
“How is this going to work? Police can't charge people with drink-driving based on a member of the public saying they think they might be over the limit. The person has to be breath-tested and actually BE over the limit. Calls to 101 or crimestoppers are for non-urgent matters but in this case it IS urgent because the person needs to be tested while, or soon after, driving.”